Bad milk mystery

sgthammer

Has anyone else noticed milk going off quicker recently? I'm talking about fresh milk from a new bottle that's well in date, not stuff that's been sitting for days.

I've stopped buying it from my local convenience store because over a couple of weeks something like 1 in 3 bottles was already curdling when first opened. But I've had occasional bad ones from supermarkets too, just in the last six months or so. Literally never before.

Is it just my bad luck to have run into a local cluster effect, or is something bigger going on?

Brie

we had this happening when our fridge was beginning to fail.

We do in fact have 2 fridges - one that was moved from the inlaws' flat when it was sold (20+ years old and is excellent) and the one that was in our kitchen when we moved in. We noticed that milk kept in the kitchen fridge would go off quickly whereas the other fridge (in the garage) would keep much longer.

At first I thought it was because the kitchen fridge is opened several times a day at least but the garage one maybe once or twice. And the garage one doesn't get the "i know it's in here somewhere so maybe if I just stare into the abyss for 20 minutes I'll remember what it was I was looking for". But then I realised that the door didn't always close properly and that the seal around the door was failing. So it wasn't that the store was selling us bad milk but that we weren't storing it as well as it needed to be.

elsien

I’ve had this happen, milk still in date and within two days of the bottle being opened it has curdled, but only from two particular supermarkets.

So although my fridge is older, I really don’t think it is a fridge issue because otherwise it would be happening with the milk I bought from everywhere.

I have just complained to one of the supermarkets and sent the batch numbers, et cetera because I was fed up the milk going off so quickly. Apparently a gift card is on the way - no explanation as to why it keeps happening though.

fatbelly

I've had this with Farm Foods but with more mainstream supermarkets my observation is that it seems to last longer than it used to. I often buy milk with 10-13 days date on it, and if I don't drink it by then, it is still ok.

PLRFD

I had a 4 pint from Farm Foods a couple of weeks ago the full milk but it was really extra creamy. Milk doesn’t hang around for long here I’m a milk monster always have been.

Grumpy_chap

The OP is correct - something is off about it all.

Rosa_Damascena

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82145421#Comment_82145421

😁

I'd go with the fridge analysis. I do buy YS from Iceland occasionally for yoghurt making, on the basis it is halfway there anyway!

tastyhog

either your fridge or a break in the cold storage from supplier to store

pseudodox

Milk regularly going off well within date led me to checking the fridge. I replaced the fridge & no milk has gone off since. Of the stuff we keep in fridges fresh milk is the most likely to let us know it is on the turn even if in date.

fatbelly

You should be able to adjust the temperature of the fridge. Get a decent thermometer in there and aim for 3-4 degrees

born_again

No issues with Sainsburys. Regularly have milk passed the best before date still OK to use