I regularly buy Woolworths Select Milk. However, on the last two occasions the milk has soured at around 5 days before the "expiry date".
So now I'm wondering if these recent batches have been bad. It could be a production error, labelling error or just cost-cutting.
Has anyone else experienced this recently?
Is it in carton or bottle?
I buy cartons at higher cost, as i find the bottles taste funny often. I always thought it was light.
2 L bottle.
it depends a lot on how it has been stored during transport to the store, in the store, transported home and also in your fridge.
i buy quite a lot of discounted short-dated milk and rarely have any troubles. good for 3 days, the brand names probably a bit longer.
the only stuff i've had problems with is ivyhome organic milk which i simply. it was just water + huge globs of fat the last two times i've bought it and it wasn't even before the use-by date.
it depends a lot on how it has been stored during transport to the store, in the store, transported home and also in your fridge.
The only dependent variables are Woolworths's.
P.S. I also buy discounted short-expiry milk and have also never had a problem with it. The problem I am having is with full-priced "fresh stock" milk.
yeah, well take it back to the store and complain and they will probably replace/refund it. you can return any woolworths product if you are not happy with it
i think opening it might have something to do with speeding up the bacterial orgy going on inside.
+1 for bacterial orgy!
Also I find drinking straight from the carton speeds things up ;)
I think you should take it back to the supermarket. There might be ongoing issues with their storage and/or handling and they should be told.
I think it's just bad luck. It happens with any perishable item on the odd occasion.
It's probably something wrong with their refrigerators, or something must have happened during transport (e.g cold storage vehicle not at right temp during transport_)
I buy this milk every week and have never had a problem, it's even been fine a day or two past expiry. Definitely let Woolies know and they can look into it for you. Maybe your cow had a cold?
I have this problem from time to time.
I generally put it down to poor handling - but never sure whether it was on their end or mine.
I'm really surprised anyone would store milk in the fridge door. (Warmest spot in whole fridge). I've always kept mine in the shelves (down the bottom, where there's the height available).
Just googled it, & see what I found-
http://www.dairygoodness.ca/milk/how-to-store-milk
A quote from your link: "Once opened, milk is safe to consume for up to 3 days." It also says that for UHT long life milk. I think they're being conservative. I often consume such products longer than that after opening with no obvious ill effect (typically a week for iced coffee). I keep them in the fridge door too.
Do you live with anyone? Maybe they're sucking on the milk bottle when you're not looking… leaving you with a bacteria milkshake.
jk, probably transport/storage issues with your local store, if it's been happening to multiple bottles you've bought from the one store. We get the 3L Woolworths milk and it lasts til the expiry date without going sour or smelling off in the slightest. Though it rarely lasts that long in our house :)
Check with your Woolies.
Like some of the other posters, I have been using Woolies Home Brand Milk for years without any problems. I am always wary of milk and cream, as it does seem to cause problems for me, if it is off.
Consequently, I almost never consume either after the use by date, but occasionally I have used Woolies milk a day or so later and not suffered any ill effects.
I usually bring my milk home in a chiller bag, if it is warm outside. I store my milk in the fridge door.
I usually buy a 3 Litre bottle and try to buy a bottle with the longest use by date. Even so, I generally use it all within a week anyway.
It looks like the signs are pointing towards a potential problem at your local Woolies.
Are you storing your milk in the door? And did you drink from the carton/bottle?
Your not supposed to do either of these. The door keeps getting open so the milk should be stored at the back of your fridge.
And use a cup. Bacteria on your mouth can speed up breakdown or even turn it into yoghurt.
Are you storing your milk in the door?
Yes.
And did you drink from the carton/bottle?
No.
I don't really have space to put it anywhere but the door, unless I lay it down horizontally and risk it leaking.
I thought everything from Woolies went off early?
I always buy the longlife milk - both reduced fat ( for Husband) & skim for me.These have a long date code & are stored by us in a cellar ,as do buy in bulk to keep them cool. However once in the kitchen fridge we have had instances of my skim milk "going off" yet his reduced fat is always fresh. We do get our orders delivered because of health issues & wonder if their delivery trucks are not refridgerated properly or how long goods have been in there before delivery to the customer. Also had this problem with meat that has been delivered ( & no, obviously not put in the cellar !) straight into the fridge or freezer, but not good when comes to use. They do always refund or re-deliver when rung but I would prefer not to have the problem in the first place!
Must also say that we have had the same situation with Coles - so cannot blame just one of the major supermarkets.
I no longer buy milk or eggs from any supermarket (IGA occasionally but only as a last resort and still buy the same local milk). Instead i go to the local deli and buy local pasteurized only milk, i also get my cream and yogurt there as well. Never had any issues. Was sick of constantly having to return off milk back to the supermarket often before use by date (woolies-not near a coles) and i know the store handling is correct at my local store as my son has worked for woolies for over 10yrs and works the back dock.
So my conclusion is that the process of the larger milk companies which includes the home brands is not very consistent. My current 2ltr milk has a use buy date of 8 mar but is still perfect( they have decent use buy time but i don't use much milk, i just like to have enough for when i do want more) i also can't remember if i have ever had the local milk brand go off even a week past date.
By the way, I've checked the fridge seals and the bottle temperature (3.6 deg C).