Relation of Code Dates to Retail Milk Supply.

Area of Science:

• Food science
• Microbiology
• Dairy science

Background:

• Milk's shelf life is critical for consumer safety and satisfaction.
• Refrigerated storage conditions significantly impact milk's bacterial load and sensory attributes.
• Code dating practices in dairies influence perceived milk freshness and quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of refrigerated storage on milk quality over a 2-year period.
• To evaluate milk's flavor and bacterial counts against established standards until the code date.
• To determine if extending the code period would improve milk quality for consumers.

Main Methods:

• Milk samples from Connecticut dairies were tested three times over two years.
• Evaluated flavor and bacterial counts immediately post-bottling and after storage at 40°F and 45°F.
• Compared results under variable (7-14 days) and uniform (10 days) code periods.

Main Results:

• All milk met bacterial standards initially, but most failed after refrigerated storage to the code date.
• At 40°F, over 90% met keeping quality standards, but only 28-42% met bacterial standards post-storage.
• At 45°F, 55-87% met keeping quality, but less than 10% met bacterial standards post-storage.

Conclusions:

• Refrigerated storage significantly degrades milk's bacterial quality, irrespective of the code period.
• Current code periods do not guarantee bacterial safety by the sale date.
• Extending milk code periods offers no advantage to consumers due to quality degradation.