# Organic Milk Expiration Dates **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976 "2003-01-31T22:42:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/1 "2003-01-31T22:42:05Z")
I noticed today that the milk in my grocery store labeled “organic milk” has a _much_ longer shelf life than the “regular” milk I usually buy. I mean like two or three weeks longer. Anybody know why this kind of milk is supposed to last longer? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/2 "2003-01-31T23:12:11Z")
Because of the lack of controls in organic farming, organic milk actually has an inherently _shorter_ expiration date. To maintain a shelf life longer than a few days, organic milk must be _ultra-high temperature pasteurized_ (UHT). This results in a longer shelf life than milk has when it’s been pasteurized at the usual temperature, even though that milk was of higher quality to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/3 "2003-01-31T23:29:41Z")
So how come some genius hasn’t started selling UHT pasteurized “regular” milk? If it were about the same price, I’d buy that, since I’m always checking the expiration dates. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/4 "2003-02-01T02:26:34Z")
I believe that UHT processing is somewhat more expensive that ordinary pasteurization even with the economy of scale that would be produced by greater usage. Some people also claim to detect a difference in taste in UHT milk. (see [http://www.fst.uq.edu.au/enzyme.htm](http://www.fst.uq.edu.au/enzyme.htm) or [http://www.moomilk.com/archive/feature\_48.htm](http://www.moomilk.com/archive/feature_48.htm)) UHT is also used for lactose-reduced refrigerated milks and for shelf-stable boxed milks all over the world. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/5 "2003-02-01T03:55:14Z")
Here’s more on [Ultrapasteurized, Organic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2697917#post2697917) Milk. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/6 "2003-02-01T04:27:17Z")
The milk sold in some fast food places is ultrapasteurized. Also, I bought a pint in a 7-11 type store that was. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/7 "2003-02-04T01:27:29Z")
A report from the field: Sunday night I bought a milk (not organic) at Wendy’s. Ultra-pasteurized, best used by date, MAR 3 03. That sucks. I don’t know why, but it does. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![leroy\_the\_mule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6a8cbe/32.png) [@leroy\_the\_mule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leroy_the_mule)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/8 "2003-02-04T17:46:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nametag \* > \*\*Because of the lack of controls in organic farming, organic milk actually has an inherently _shorter_ expiration date. To maintain a shelf life longer than a few days, organic milk must be _ultra-high temperature pasteurized_ (UHT). This results in a longer shelf life than milk has when it’s been pasteurized at the usual temperature, even though that milk was of higher quality to begin with. \*\* “Lack of controls in organic farming”?:smack:???:smack:!!! The USDA National Organic Program is a nearly 700-page federal rule which regulates “organic” food. Twenty-three pages of the rule are devoted to the definition of "organic,” making it one of the most thoroughly defined words in the English language. Organic farmers must satisfy explicit criteria dealing with animal health, cleanliness, and manure handling. Organic milk production has A LOT more oversight than conventional milk production. The reason you have ultra-high temperature pasteurization in organic milk is that organic milk usually travels much farther before it reaches the customer. Organic Valley milk produced here in Wisconsin ends up in California, New Mexico, Florida, and New York. Ultra-high temperature pasteurization permits a longer shelf-life, assuring Organic Valley that they will get their money back on all their transport costs. High-tech factory farming brought us the newer and more virulent strains of E. coli. Overcrowding and stress make factory-farm-raised animals more vulnerable to pathogens, and the fix for this has been to add enormous quantities of antibiotics to animal feed. This led to new strains of organisms that are resistant to antibiotics commonly used for human patients. Both the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association have issued calls for ending this practice. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/9 "2003-02-05T00:19:32Z")
California, **leroy**? Could very well be, but I think CA has pretty good share of organic dairies. Next time I’m in the store I’ll look. Now I’m curious. We do have some excellent cheddar. And curds! Available by mail-order. 😛 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organic-milk-expiration-dates/151976/10 "2003-02-05T00:32:28Z")
Organic Valley is on the shelves here in New York State.