# How can I tell when soy milk goes bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385 "2003-05-20T20:51:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/1 "2003-05-20T20:51:33Z")
Can anyone tell me how long soy milk stays fresh, opened? The only expiry date given on the carton is the shelf life (sometime in 2004). This morning, a few tiny lumps floated at the top, and I refused to drink it. My sister did (she said I didn’t shake the carton properly), and she isn’t sick (yet). Did it curdle, or were those like little bits of tofu? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/2 "2003-05-20T21:33:17Z")
Holy heck, soy milk is bad when they put it in the carton. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/3 "2003-05-20T22:20:15Z")
From [this FAQ](http://www.sunsoy.com/faq.php): > [@](#): > > **How can I tell if my soymilk is spoiled?** > If you are unsure about whether your soymilk has spoiled, do not drink it. The process of making soymilk is designed to produce a uniform product. Look for any changes in taste, color, smell, texture and consistency. Spoiled soymilk will most often become thickened and lumpy. You can also tell if it’s going bad by smelling or tasting the soymilk. Spoiled soymilk will taste “off” or sour. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/4 "2003-05-20T22:31:34Z")
Soy milk lasts a long time, but I’m not sure I’d keep any around for a year. I usually finish the carton within a week or so of opening it (at most), and it’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/5 "2003-05-21T07:07:52Z")
I must agree with Nurse Carmen, and nurses must know all about milk, right? Actually, depending on the brand, your soy milk could be up to 400% corn syrup. Anything with that much sugar might take a long time to go bad. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/6 "2003-05-21T07:19:51Z")
It sprouts? 😃 ---
**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:** [May 21, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/7 "2003-05-21T07:56:59Z")
I use my organic rotian detection device (aka sniff test). ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-tell-when-soy-milk-goes-bad/176385/8 "2003-05-21T18:22:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by j.c. \* > \*\*I must agree with Nurse Carmen, and nurses must know all about milk, right? > > Actually, depending on the brand, your soy milk could be up to 400% corn syrup. Anything with that much sugar might take a long time to go bad. \*\* 400%? In a 100% filled bottle I presume? 😉