Organic vs. Conventional Milk Expiration Dates

17 years ago

Kathi_mgdg's post about expiration dates got me thinking.

A while ago, I noticed that the organic brands milk have a much longer shelf life than conventional milk. For example, the organic brand I usually buy has a sell-by date of 7/20 on a carton I bought today, where the conventional was 7/3.

Even though organic is more expensive, I know that I can polish off a half gallon in that amount of time, where I have wasted conventional milk in the past due to the shorter sell-by date. And even after the sell-by date, the conventional milk seems to spoil faster.

I now also think that the organic tastes better, so I won't be going back. But I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about why the sell-by dates are so different? Logic, if there is any, might dictate the other way around since the organic would have no additives.

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Comments (7)

sjerin
17 years ago
Wow, I was just talking to my neighbor about this tonight and have wondered about this for the last couple of years, when I first began to notice it. I did ask a guy at Nob Hill a year or so ago, but he had no idea what the reason is. I don't recall there being a long shelf life when I first started buying organic milk, maybe three or four years ago. I sure am looking forward to reading about the answer--thanks for posting the question!
dilly_dally
17 years ago
I do not know the answer but there are a couple things to consider. Organic milk is usually sold locally and there may be a longer lag due to time spent in shipping the national brand names.

What type of packaging is do you buy your milk in? I have noticed and so have others that the cardboard cartons do not seem to keep the milk as fresh.

Also the word *organic* does not mean it has no additives nor that it may not have been irradiated.
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mtnwomanbc
Original Author
17 years ago
This is for the cardboard half gallon cartons with the inserted screw top opening. I haven't checked the plastic containers, but then the organic brands tend not to be packaged in those.

I kind of miss doing the origami thing with opening the cardboard container, but I appreciate that the screw-top opening probably keeps things fresher longer, no matter organic or conventional.
mcmann
17 years ago
This made me curious so I went to Consumer Reports. Theis answer is from their blog- And the link below is from Scientific American.

Q&A: Does organic milk last longer?

Organic_milk Why does the organic milk I buy last so much longer than regular milk? ÂJ.H., Holden, Mass.

Organic milk often undergoes "ultrapasteurization," in which the milk is heated to a very hot 280Â° F (137.8Â° C) for 2 seconds, rather than the 161Â° F (71.7Â° C) for 15 seconds used in conventional pasteurization. By killing more bacteria, the extra heat extends the milk's expiration date. It's not clear whether organic-milk producers ultrapasteurize as an additional safeguard against bacteria, since organic cows consume no antibiotics, or simply to extend shelf life. Properly refrigerated, ultrapasteurized milk has a shelf life of 40 to 60 days unopened, compared with 15 to 17 days for milk pasteurized the regular way. But you should consume all milk within 7 to 10 days after opening.

Here is a link that might be useful: Penn State professor
mtnwomanbc
Original Author
17 years ago
Excellent info! I didn't have time to check back at the KT until now, and I wondered why it only had a few posts. Mcmann's researched reply says it all.
Thank you!
dilly_dally
17 years ago
Thanks McMann!
yayagal
17 years ago
FYI, if you buy Simply Smart no fat milk, it tastes exactly like regular milk and lasts almost a month.

Organic vs. Conventional Milk Expiration Dates

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Organic vs. Conventional Milk Expiration Dates

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