Discussions

from Safeway (Lucerne) and the date was the tenth. Not sour at all. Plus we have left choc milk other times past it's due date and we have been able to drink it. Funny I thought about chucking the milk tonight because I thought five days past no way it will be drinkable but it was.

A 4-litre jug of Dairyland 1% go sour on us today. It was half full and Expiry date was a week away. So it's not just Lucerne sorry to say.

Also had Lucerne milk go bad long before the expiry date on numerous occasions. Called and complained and was offered a free jug. Am going elsewhere for milk now.

I find that Lucerne milk last forever and doesn't go sour.  
I never have it go sour before the date.

But I have been having this exact same problem with Dairyland's coffeecream which is processed by Saputo. I thought it was because I was keeping it in the fridge door. I tried keeping it deeper in the fridge but same thing. Then thought perhaps it was the store I bought it from so I bought it elsewhere too, same results. So Ill switch brands. I have no issues with my other dairy products.  
 
Edited by Tamara79, 2015-07-15 22:45:54

... Not a fan that sobeys doesn't sell it anymore. Very inconvenient. We now have to go to walmart or giant tiger on a "milk run". Or pay outrages prices at local gas stations!!! I literally can't drink Lucerne milk without feeling sick afterwards or Actually throwing up. I agree something about their milk is different!!

It is probably your refrigerator on these hot days. We have a fairly new fridge at the lake and milk goes sour often, don't matter what brand. However we have an older beer fridge with the freezer compartment that is not frost free and have had milk last 2 weeks past due date, so I think it is just that your fridge is not keeping milk cold enough.  
 
P.S. beer is ice cold

Lucerne milk spoils early for us regardless of the season and the fridge is very cold - very cold beer. I'm personally inclined to think there is something different with Lucerne milk such that it spoils many days before the "best before" date. Our previous jug was Dairyland and it was fine even 2 days past the "expiry' date.  
 
I know what I'm going to do - just not buy Lucerne milk anymore.

I've been buying Lucerne milk since it came to Sobey's and I love that it doesn't go sour on us. Pretty much every carton we bought from Superstore or the Beatrice from Sobey's I would have to throw out the dredges because it smelled bad.  
 
Does maybe the location matter? One store might have faster turnover than the other, or the cooler is slightly warmer?

1) I have noticed for years that Lucerne milk tastes off even when fresh. not quite sure why, but I just don't generally buy it. It makes me less likely to shop at Sobey's now.  
 
2) Expiry dates on milk are tested. It's not going to be a marketing department setting it - it's set according to rules, and verified. And if particular batches/dates go off earlier than they are supposed to, the dairy and processing plant would look into why that happened.  
 
I don't know if it's something about the processing at Lucerne or the raw production of milk going to the Lucerne plant, but there is something that can make it taste a little funny - but not every body tastes it.

I agree that Lucerne milk tastes a little funny. If I had to guess, it kinda tastes like corn. So disappointed with this decision by sobeys to switch to Lucerne

I prefer Dairyland over Lucerne. Tastes better.

There should be a 1-800 number on the carton. Call them and let them know. They keep a track of it,and they will send a coupon in the mail for a replacement free of charge.

This might sound strange but I heard a wierd fact that I was told as a kid. Since it was storming yesterday and there was thunder and lightning I was told a wives tale that after a storm even if the power didn't go out that the milk will turn sour!  
It's always happened to milk I've bought after a storm no matter how new it is!  

Odd, it's been Dairyland milk for us that always goes bad sooner and Lucerne which lasts longer.

When people are talking on any given brand of milk going bad do you try buying the same brand at a different location. This is just my opinion but we have picked up milk at different stores, and it has been different brands, and I have thought that the milk is not nearly cold enough, and if it is stored at a temperature that is not cold enough and them place in a display cooler that is not cool enough, you end up with spoiled milk.  
 
I have also heard the old tale of how lightning storms seem to spoil milk, but when you look at the temperatures associated with creating these storms it might also be a heat related cause.

JustaRegular said "This might sound strange but I heard a wierd fact that I was told as a kid. Since it was storming yesterday and there was thunder and lightning I was told a wives tale that after a storm even if the power didn't go out that the milk will turn sour!   It's always happened to milk I've bought after a storm no matter how new it is!   "

Same thing! That a storm could turn the milk sour! Also, be careful that it's actually the milk. I thought our milk was going sour extremely fast and then discovered that the milk on the cap was being left on the rim of the jug. I buy the four litre jugs. Anyway, the milk on the rim was sour so I was always smelling that. So I now wipe the rim of the milk and the cap before I put it back in the fridge. I don't find that I smell that sour smell anymore and well milk is usually gone around here before the expiry date. I rarely find milk spoils now of any brand.

a litre of Dariyland 2% milk sour and curdle very quickly last week.

4 litres jugs of Dairyland at SDM to get points, lol, but had to throw quite a bit out as it went sour fast.

don brown said "When people are talking on any given brand of milk going bad do you try buying the same brand at a different location. This is just my opinion but we have picked up milk at different stores, and it has been different brands, and I have thought that the milk is not nearly cold enough, and if it is stored at a temperature that is not cold enough and them place in a display cooler that is not cool enough, you end up with spoiled milk.     I have also heard the old tale of how lightning storms seem to spoil milk, but when you look at the temperatures associated with creating these storms it might also be a heat related cause. "

Good thought Don, but we can buy Dairyland, Lucerne and Beatrice all from the same store and cooler and found the Dairyland went sour sooner than the others.

We don't really drink milk in my house. We switched to almond milk and I couldn't be happier. Humans aren't made to drink another species milk and I always felt phlegmy and gross after drinking milk and I'm not lactose intolerant either. I don't get that feeling with almond milk and it has all the calcium I need.

Wiping off of the mouth of the jug can help.  
 
Also, keep an eye on the cooler thermometers in the store. They are supposed to keep track of the temperature and keep it steady, but we have noticed in the past that often they don't. The temperature should be between 0-4 degrees Celsius. Some stores are better than others at keeping temperatures correct. Not all coolers are created equal either as some are more open to the warmer air.  
 
To add to that, no matter how cold your fridge (or beer) feels like at home, or no matter what number your fridge is set at (that will not show the correct temperature ever, it is only a general setting), it should be between 0-4 DEGREES too, not the SETTING of 0-4. The closer to 0 degrees the better for keeping milk lasting longer.  
 
To keep track of fridge temperature, get a fridge thermometer at Walmart or elsewhere. It can make a difference.  
 
These things are in your control, so I would say to start with that.  
 
Anyone who has kept milk cows will tell you that everything the cow eats affects the flavor (weeds, corn, soy...all not pleasant...fresh grass, alfalfa, good hay...tasty and sweet).  
 
At any place along the handling/processing/shipping something can happen to the milk as well. There is a lot of equipment to keep clean, refrigerated trucks and so on to keep up and working right. Anything can happen at any point in that process and affect the flavor. The least handling the better when it comes to something perishable.  
 
The plastic it is stored in also affects the flavor. I can taste plastic in a lot of packaged foods (not just processed milk) and it is never a nice addition. I have wondered if different companies use slightly different components anyway in their jugs. As well, does anyone know if the cartons are actually wax lined as they used to be, or now plastic lined?  
 
Keep in mind that none of the milk is truly fresh either as it is shipped here and there and it is truly a long time before it even gets to the store. You will not get milk within a few minutes or the day from the time it came from the cow.  
 
There are a lot of dead things left in the milk too after processing which doesn't turn the milk sour...it actually goes rancid as they rot. There is a definite difference between raw and processed when it starts to turn and of course, this rancidity can start to happen anywhere along the process depending on its environment.  
 
Anyway, just a few things to think on. I like sweet milk, so it has always been a big thing to me. I do not like it sour nor rancid and will not drink anything if it is off even a little.

The Dude-Man said "I prefer Dairyland over Lucerne. Tastes better. "

Just don't like Lucerne or Beatrice and they seem to go bad sooner.  
Maybe this is just a Minnedosa thing, but Dairyland milk is cheaper at the Co-op gas station than in the grocery store.  
Go figure.

the expiry date on the milk is to notify the stores that they cannot sell it after that date. But it will still be good to drink.

I have had similar issue; however, when I complained to the manufacturer they provided coupons for free milk and explained to me that, milk needs to be stored at a minimum temperature and for every day it is not stored at that temperature it takes time from the expiration. So if your fridge is not running at the right temperature or the store it was purchased at does not have their fridges at a minimum temperature or their fridge is getting opened repeatedly,then the temperature will be hard to keep up,thus it will spoil faster.

Flutterby and don said most of what i would say, one other thing i have noticed about expiry dates is that no matter what the date says you can not expect the item to stay fresh for a month if opened, basically i get a few weeks out of milk even if i buy the stuff at the back and with an expiry date a month away  
 
i also wonder how far lucerne is shipped? that would make a difference too

north of 54 said " I don't buy Lucerne milk very often but when I do - at least 50% of the time it has gone bad several days before the "best before" date. This morning I poured 1/2 of a 4 litre jug out since I could smell how bad it was as soon as I unscrewed the top and the "best before" date was July 21.     I never have this problem with Dairyland milk and rarely have this problem with Beatrice milk.     Now that Sobeys carries Lucerne milk I guess I'll have to buy my milk elsewhere as I'm wasting money throwing out milk half the time.     Is there something different with Lucerne milk or are the marketing people just being overly optimistic about the "best before" date?     Just curious if anyone else has problems with Lucerne milk Edited by admin, 2015-07-16 07:46:46. Reason: title"

I don't understand why you are throwing the milk away. As long as it is before the expiry date on the carton, you can return it to the store for a new carton if it is sour.

I don't have this issue as we drink milk way before the expiry date lol. However, have you tried buying the 2L's? It would be less milk opened at once so might stay fresh longer?

Very few times have we had milk go bad, however, milk will absorb doors from food in your fridge. So if you fridge smells so does your milk