# Do you want your milk in a bag? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2015, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510 "2015-03-08T06:24:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/41 "2015-03-09T19:46:09Z")
I misinterpreted the question too, because back in the Seventies in New Jersey, I used to see grocery stores selling milk in quart-size plastic bags. You’d have to fit those bags inside some kind of plastic holder/pourer, then snip off a corner of the bag to pour the milk into your cereal or coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/42 "2015-03-09T20:06:00Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I can imagine people might, because milk jug handles are cold This. Milk in a carton? No bag. Milk in a jug? Into a bag it goes, no way I’m holding that cold thing any longer than I absolutely have to. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/43 "2015-03-09T20:51:34Z")
I like my milk in a bag, but it’s so that I have a bag to put trash or dog waste in later on. The more, the better. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/44 "2015-03-09T22:37:26Z")
Always in a bag, and sometimes they don’t do that until I remind them a second time. ---
**Author:** ![MrsTime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@MrsTime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsTime)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/45 "2015-03-09T23:05:19Z")
I’m Canadian and we no longer have milk in bags. Thankfully. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/46 "2015-03-09T23:58:26Z")
Yes, because I need to carry it (and multiple bags). I would love to have the bagged milk that is in every restaurant I’ve ever been in. ETA: But I bag my own milk (and all groceries), of course. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/47 "2015-03-10T00:02:05Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > What really bugs me is when the checker/bagger puts a 5lb bag of potatoes in a bag… Just like milk, I need the bag to carry it. ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/48 "2015-03-11T01:47:14Z")
> [@MrsTime](#): > > I’m Canadian and we no longer have milk in bags. Thankfully. What do you mean? Bagged milk is totally the norm in my area, and I’d miss it a lot if it wasn’t. Where are you that you no longer have it? And why would that be a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/49 "2015-03-11T03:13:04Z")
Occasionally milk in a carton is spoiled due to a pinhole leak in the fold/seal. Milk in a bag does not have this problem. I prefer bagged milk for this reason, despite it not being as easy to open and pour. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/50 "2015-03-11T03:31:04Z")
Never. I always buy my milk by the gallon, and it’s from a local dairy. When I buy it, the ‘use-by’ date is at least two weeks out – and I can keep it two weeks past the ‘use-by’ before it spoils. I have to stop at a particular convenience store to buy it ([Dari-Mart Stores](http://darimart.com/)), but that’s no big deal. I only have to carry it for about 30 feet. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/51 "2015-03-11T13:01:29Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I don’t reseal my milk bags, and I’ve never noticed odors particularly. You take individual bags, (just under a quart and a half,) and put them in reusable hard plastic [pitchers](https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=897&q=pitchers+for+milk+bags&oq=pitchers+for+milk+bags&gs_l=img.3...1640.5122.0.5324.22.14.0.8.0.0.95.1079.14.14.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.62.img..9.13.1006.Ausf5OE2g-o#imgdii=_&imgrc=WFtJXx5T9rf44M%253A%3BW_WVRlmRCvWc1M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fjunkdrawer67.files.wordpress.com%252F2011%252F10%252Fmilk-bag.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.reddit.com%252Fr%252Ftoronto%252Fcomments%252F2ei0l6%252Fbagged_milk_how_also_why%252F%3B357%3B480) that leave the top of the bag exposed. Then you use scissors to cut a small hole in the top corner of the bag, away from the pitcher handle. > > Then you can pour milk out of the pitcher until the bag is almost empty, take the bag out of the pitcher, extend the hole along the top of the bag and drain the rest out. Then you reuse the pitcher with the next bag. > > Does that help give any context? Wow. That’s complicated. With a jug you just twist open the top and pour. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/52 "2015-03-11T14:17:30Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Wow. That’s complicated. With a jug you just twist open the top and pour. I can’t tell if you’re serious or not. Which is the complicated part? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/53 "2015-03-11T14:23:30Z")
Probably having difficulty twisting the top off the bag. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/54 "2015-03-11T14:51:31Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I can’t tell if you’re serious or not. Which is the complicated part? Well, milk in a bag appears to be a multi-step process to use all of the milk out of bag. Paraphrased from a previous description: 1. You take individual bags and put them in reusable hard plastic pitchers that leave the top of the bag exposed. 2. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the top corner of the bag, away from the pitcher handle. (This requires a separate tool just to drink milk!) 3. Pour milk out of the pitcher (the easy step) 4. Once bag is almost empty, take the bag out of the pitcher, extend the hole along the top of the bag and drain the rest out. (Does this involve the scissors again or do you just use your fingers?) 5. Presumably you have to clean the pitcher for the next use? Contrast with a jug: 1. Twist top off of jug. 2. Pour milk. ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/55 "2015-03-11T14:55:28Z")
We drink bagged milk and never have a problem pouring the last few drops and never slice the bag all the way open. Nor do we clean the pitcher in between uses–you just plop a new bag in there. We throw the pitcher in the dishwasher every month or so, but that’s it…and if we used a jug we’d have the additional step of rinsing it for the recycling. Bagged milk is really incredibly simple. ---
**Author:** ![maisoui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@maisoui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maisoui)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/56 "2015-03-11T14:56:07Z")
Probably nobody but me (because I was asked to start it) remembers this thread, but a lot of questions about milk in bags (in Canada) were asked and answered here… [Ask the people who buy milk in bags](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=551143) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/57 "2015-03-11T16:27:36Z")
The war in Ontario ended in late November last year, with the addition of [s. 8 (1) 5.1 to O.Reg 753](http://canlii.ca/t/52c0g). The farmers and retailers had been fighting each other, with the [drainage ditch tribunal](http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onafraat/) trying to sort it out, until Parliament did something useful and amended the Milk Act’s regulation on what sizes of container are permitted. Now that three liter jugs will be permitted, I hope bags continue to be offered, for one of the many ways of being cost conscious and environmentally responsible is to reuse milk bags by slicing off the tops with a handy-dandy [barzel with built-in izmel](http://www.homehardware.ca/products/300/41104101.jpg), rinsing them out, and using them as condoms. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/58 "2015-03-11T17:20:19Z")
It drives me crazy to only have one thing in a bag - such a waste of resources for no benefit. My favorite thing about the bag tax is that now they typically ask for explicit instructions about what you want bagged. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/59 "2015-03-11T17:31:35Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’ve never seen milk bags in the store. Looks like a neat idea but how does one reseal it after opening? Seems if you couldn’t reseal, the milk would pick up odors from other foods. Few people bother, but one can use clips, ranging from [milk bag clips](http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/765/238/237/ws_transfer_pic_554247.jpg) to binder clips to clothes pins. ---
**Author:** ![MrsTime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@MrsTime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsTime)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/60 "2015-03-11T17:33:07Z")
It has been several years since I have seen milk in bags here in BC. I guess some provinces must still use bagged milk because of the 6 who chose “I’m Canadian etc”. I didn’t like the bags when we did have them here in BC, it left the milk open in the fridge to pick up nasty tastes from other foods in the refrigerator. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510.md?page=4)