# Saw an ad in a local paper for "white milk". What does that term mean to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565 "2022-08-29T21:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/41 "2022-08-30T01:25:01Z")
I’ve never heard the term and if I heard it in the wild I think I would’ve requested clarification. Grew up on the west coast. On the subject of milk carriers, I saw one last week during my morning run. I was shocked. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/42 "2022-08-30T01:29:51Z")
Having grown up in the Midwest, I too am familiar with “white milk” and “chocolate milk.” Of course, now we have all kinds of non-animal sourced “mylks”, and assorted flavors like banana and strawberry, not to mention eggnog, peppermint, pumpkin spice, etc. around certain holidays. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/43 "2022-08-30T01:30:27Z")
I agree with those who had “white milk or chocolate milk” at school. Grade school in southern Michigan in the early '60s. Don’t recall ever seeing it in ads. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/44 "2022-08-30T02:10:25Z")
Texas in the 50s, Missouri in the 60s. I knew it as “white milk” vs. chocolate milk. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/45 "2022-08-30T04:44:00Z")
in indiana they’ed as if you wanted white or chocolate milk but in CA it was milk or chocolate milk ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/46 "2022-08-30T04:52:46Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Those of you who knew it from school (as I did), would you see the term in printed ads? Milk is not featured in printed ads much. Milk is considered a staple, something people buy every week at the grocery store – no need to advertise it. (That’s also why it is in a back corner of the grocery store – so customers will have to walk past all the other sale items to get to the milk.) The exceptions would be around holidays, when people do a lot of baking. Also, milk is not usually on a special sale price. In many states, there are legal regulations relating to milk & dairy products, which often limit the prices for them. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/47 "2022-08-30T04:55:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I note that some kids called it “vanilla milk,” but that would obviously mean something different in an ad, i.e. milk actually flavored with vanilla. [Nestle makes a vanilla milk.](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56cdff5a1bbee0e1a2120339/1580238014817-OVHPWR49GWH8RHLO6OT3/vanilla_milk.jpg). It’s funny because you know it’s not going to taste like regular milk since regular milk isn’t vanilla, but how different it tastes from regular milk is almost jarring. Having said that, it’s really good. It’s like drinking melted (vanilla) ice cream. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/48 "2022-08-30T05:02:45Z")
Bunnies up, Buddy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yYJ7SpQRJGc/hqdefault.jpg "Nesquik Bunny's up commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYJ7SpQRJGc) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/49 "2022-08-30T10:33:05Z")
I have been asked “white or chocolate?” when ordering milk at restaurants. Brian ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/50 "2022-08-30T11:56:58Z")
Never heard of white milk. But maybe chocolate milk just wasn’t that much of a thing when I was growing up (70s, UK). I do, however, _ **still** _ have milk delivered by a milkman. There’s been a bit of a nostalgic milkman revival been happening here. [Milk and More](https://www.milkandmore.co.uk/?&bidkw=milk%20and%20more&dvc=c&h=https://clickserve.dartsearch.net/link/click?lid=43700022501741727&ds_s_kwgid=58700002608594601&gclid=CjwKCAjw6raYBhB7EiwABge5KndE66wdzuExq_Wp5sALRhxyJxSwUvpIAp-eNvnS15-NaJjFWSYoQRoC8fQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) is a national brand providing this service, I think the milkmen are franchisees. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/51 "2022-08-30T12:03:19Z")
I’ve never heard of white milk. I’ve only ever known milk. And it’s always been white. > [@SanVito](#): > > [Milk and More](https://www.milkandmore.co.uk/?&bidkw=milk%20and%20more&dvc=c&h=https://clickserve.dartsearch.net/link/click?lid=43700022501741727&ds_s_kwgid=58700002608594601&gclid=CjwKCAjw6raYBhB7EiwABge5KndE66wdzuExq_Wp5sALRhxyJxSwUvpIAp-eNvnS15-NaJjFWSYoQRoC8fQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) is a national brand providing this service, My mum uses them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/52 "2022-08-30T12:14:01Z")
I didn’t like milk even as a kid, and soy/almond/oat/cashew milks weren’t around yet(?), but I remember white milk pints being offered at school. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/53 "2022-08-30T12:29:52Z")
I’ve made vanilla milk. I prefer hot cocoa, or just plain milk. But adding some sugar and vanilla to milk makes a pleasant “dessert” beverage, like chocolate milk. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/54 "2022-08-30T14:27:35Z")
In the southern US, white milk is sometimes called sweet milk (don’t ask me why). My grandfather was on a rare trip and an even rarer visit to a restaurant where he ordered a glass of sweet milk. The waiter came back and said, we just have regular ilk but i can give you some sugar to put in it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/55 "2022-08-30T14:47:46Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Our local community advertising newsletter recently ran a local grocery store’s ad for “white milk”. Being of the area, I knew immediately it meant either whole, 2%, 1%, or skim milk. I just find the ad’s language needlessly awkward. Isn’t the default for milk “white”? IfI was asked to pick up a gallon of milk, I wouldn’t come home with a jug of chocolate. Do they really need to specify non-chocolate milk? Why not just say “Sale on milk” or “Skim, 1%, 2% and Whole Milk on sale!”? How many non-white milks do they carry? Or… is it not on sale, and they’re just announcing they carry it (like every other store in the world). ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/56 "2022-08-30T14:50:09Z")
St Louis area native, don’t recall ever seeing or hearing the term “white milk”. I definitely remember “homo milk” though, which always made adolescent me giggle. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/57 "2022-08-30T14:57:01Z")
It’s hard to find milk that hasn’t been homogenized. I’m surprised that made it into an ad. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/58 "2022-08-30T14:59:47Z")
I make breakfasts for both of us on the weekends. My gf loves my omelets which contain onion, peppers, peas, spinach, and American cheese. She calls them “omelets”. If she additionally wants chia seeds, she requests a “power omelet”. If she is feeling health conscious, she asks for a “white omelet” (made with egg whites). If she is feeling super health conscious, she asks for a “white power omelet”, carefully inserting a pause after “white”. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/59 "2022-08-30T15:04:42Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It’s hard to find milk that hasn’t been homogenized. I’m surprised that made it into an ad. At my store I’ve asked the person who orders milk AND the person who delivers it why people refer to whole milk as homogenized (and sometimes ‘homo’ when I think they think they’re being coy/clever). I always get the same answer ‘because it’s homogenized’ to which I reply ‘and the other milk isn’t?’. To be fair, even the labels on whole milk often say ‘homogenized’ and/or ‘vitamin d’ in a considerably bigger font than on the other cartons. But it still seems odd to refer to one type of milk by something that describes nearly all of them. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565/60 "2022-08-30T16:01:10Z")
It’s the same sort of creeping idiocy that gives us “unsweet tea”. Not only is it ‘unsweetened tea’, but ‘tea’ implies unsweetened if there’s an alternative of “sweet tea”. But not having all the options described confuses people apparently, so we get this nonsense. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > To be fair, even the labels on whole milk often say ‘homogenized’ and/or ‘vitamin d’ in a considerably bigger font than on the other cartons. But it still seems odd to refer to one type of milk by something that describes nearly all of them. I’m guessing regulatory requirements that are relics of yesteryear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-an-ad-in-a-local-paper-for-white-milk-what-does-that-term-mean-to-you/970565.md?page=4)