On many milk jugs, it will specifically state, "drink before this date," so I know when it wil go bad, but sometimes it just says "buy before this date," but that does not mean it will go bad on that date, so how many days is it good to drink before it goes bad? Why do they not just say drink before this date on all of them? Are they doing this on purpose?

kaylofgorons

I think some of it is psychological. The same as when they put $499.99. Of course, you realize that with tax, it will be a great deal more than $500 but that one cent seems to be important! The "buy before this date" puts more pressure on the salespeople I imagine. "Drink before this date" can be kept in the store until that date. I know my mom will always pull all the milk out and get the "freshest" milk instead of taking the stock from a few days earlier. Not that it matters a bit, we drink it or use it fast enough! Mar 12 05, 9:45 AM

lothruin

Also, milk won't just suddenly go bad on the date written on the carton. It's pretty easy to tell bad milk from good milk, and usually milk will last at least several days past the "drink by" date. No reason to throw out good milk just because the date on the box says it might have gone bad by now. Especially when milk will sometimes go bad long before the date on the box. Follow your nose. Mar 12 05, 10:12 AM

elizabethmc

"In Hollywood a marriage is a success if it outlasts milk." -Rita Rudner Mar 12 05, 10:19 AM

robboy

The labels don't say 'drink by...' or 'eat by...'. The messages are couched in various ways to mean different things. http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa102102b.htm Mar 12 05, 11:16 AM

Baloo55th

Most things with dates in the UK say 'Best before...' rather than 'Sell by...' Some have 'Display until...' and 'Use by......' together. Part of the reason for these dates is compo. If they give a date by which none of it will have gone off, then they're safe if someone keeps it longer and it goes off. In practice, things will keep longer. Just use sense, and remember you can't sue them if the date is past. I've just used a bottle of Peppered Ale marinade that I found in a corner of the pantry that had a date of 1998! It hadn't been opened, of course. I did throw out two other sauces with later dates because when I opened them I wasn't happy about the smell. Obviously some things will go off sooner. Milk in a bottle only lasts a few days. UHT milk in an unopened carton will last months. Most tins will last for years - just watch for bulges (unless something Swedish and odd) or rust. Unopened bottles with alcohol or vinegar as a major ingredient will last a very long time. Use your judgement. For total safety, of course, stick to the dates. But I do remember a healthy snack bar that only became really edible at six months past the use by date. Mar 13 05, 3:47 PM

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Is it good to drink water just before sleeping? Why does bottled water have a "best before date" on it? How long after the sell-by date can you drink milk, presuming no nasty smell or lumps? I know with many things it is bad if you eat or drink too much of it, but is this true also for water? If you happened to drink five gallons of water in one day, healthwise, is it bad to drink that much water?

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