Milk going sour well before Best Before date

C

Ceist Beag

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Recently we've noticed a lot of the milk we buy goes sour well before the Best Before date - usually within 4-5 days of us buying the milk and even if we only open the container after 3 days. Is this more an indication that our fridge is not cold enough or is it more an indication that the quality of the milk is poor? Usually when we buy the milk the Best Before date is about 10 days away but we're lucky to get 5 days out of it.
 
I'd say it's more than likely the fridge's fault. Put a thermometer into it and see what the actual temp is inside.
 
There has been alot in the media recently about the same problem. The first thing is to complain to the supplier/manufacturer as they have said that they have not had many complaints about it.

I notice the same problem since they extended the BBF dates a couple of months ago. One explanation I heard on the radio was that the open fronted chill cabinets that the milk is stored in, in the shops are not cold enough ( I always try and get one from the back now) and that the milk is being left on trollies in the shops to long before going into the chill cabinets. Pass the blame or what!

Tip: A lady told me one day that when you buy a "Plastic Carton of Milk" always tighten the top to stop it from leaking as the machine in the factory does'nt give them the full twist - notice the bottom of the cartons are always wet in the shop!
 
Have to say I've never experienced this myself .. so far. I would even notice I could get 1 or 2 extra days out of the milk past it's BB date, so definitely check your fridge temperature as a precaution anyway.
 
I'll add my tuppence worth - I have noticed this on occassion as well - I would agree with NGH's view that it is the stoarge cabinets temp that is the major factor
 
Ceist Beag said:
Recently we've noticed a lot of the milk we buy goes sour well before the Best Before date - usually within 4-5 days of us buying the milk and even if we only open the container after 3 days.
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Whatever about best before dates and milk going sour before they are reached I would not really expect milk to remain good for 5 days.
 
We had this problem a couple of months back and I kept complaining to the supermarket - I was losing about 4-5 ltrs at a time. Eventually I realised that the problem was our fridge. Our fridge had a boost button for super freezing the freezer section which would draw the energy from the fridge part so although our fridge was set at the correct temp - it wasn't actually cold enough for the milk. So, I'd say check your fridge!
 
I would also make sure that the freezer does not need to be defrosted - I was experiencing the same problem with milk, defrosted the freezer and this solved the problem..
 
ClubMan said:
Whatever about best before dates and milk going sour before they are reached I would not really expect milk to remain good for 5 days.
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Back in the days of yore when the milkman delivered milk which sat for a few hrs in the morning sun, that would have been the case.
In the modern era however, milk will easily last 7/8 days - the only time I had similar problems to the OP was when the fridge seal was buggered!!
 
I used to have this problem too. Then I noticed that the shopkeeper kept his milk on the shop floor for a couple of hours in the morning so that the young lad, who worked there, could do the heavy lifting when he came into work.

I would think that best before dates only operate until the carton is open. After that I'd only expect the milk to last a day or so.
 
I'm with Liteweight and Clubman on this. Could so many fridges be performing badly??

I think generally food doesn't have a long shelf life, maybe because of bad storage practice mentioned above. I think meat especially is generally being frozen and defrosted but sold as 'fresh meat'.

I emailed Superquinn about bacon, following an AAM thread, but surprisingly didn't hear anything...
 
ClubMan said:
Whatever about best before dates and milk going sour before they are reached I would not really expect milk to remain good for 5 days.
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Clubman, that's not like you. Are you are losing your touch.

I expect milk, like everything else I buy, to do exactly what it says on the tin, and I expect it to last at least as long as the consume before date.

If the dairy & supermarkets expect the milk to only last 5 days then they should say that on the label.


Murt
 
I don't drink much milk, so as soon as i buy a litre i empty half of it into a plastic bottle and stick it in the freezer.
 
When we buy milk from the local Spar we find it *without exception* tastes wonky. As a result, we don't buy from there except on very rare occasions. Given that this is the same brand name milk we would get in any of the supermarkets and milk from the supermarkets normally just tastes like, well, like milk, I think there is something about the handling either in the Spar or in the delivery to the Spar that causes the problem.

z
 
zag said:
When we buy milk from the local Spar we find it *without exception* tastes wonky. As a result, we don't buy from there except on very rare occasions.
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Like when you get a craving for wonky milk or something?
 
No, when we are in a hurry and need something resembling milk and don't have time to go to the supermarket. That is why they are rare occasions. Do you ask this many questions in the real world ?

z
 
I have always assumed that the BBF date applied to unopened perishable goods and that when opened they can only be refrigerated for 3 days.
 
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