When it comes to drinking milk, the date on the carton might not be as important as the freshness of the product inside. The date you find stamped on a milk bottle or carton is the "sell-by" date, and the milk inside still might be good for days after that date. However, if milk is handled incorrectly, it can speed the rate at which it goes bad.
Sell-By Date
The Dairy Council of California reports that when you buy milk, it makes sense to buy only as much as you're likely to consume by the sell-by date to ensure freshness. However, if you handle your milk properly, the council notes that milk should still be good to drink five to seven days after the sell-by date. If milk develops an off-odor or odd taste, throw it out. You can freeze milk while it's still fresh to drink at a later time, but the council says the flavor and texture of the milk might be affected.
Food Poisoning
If you drink milk long past the expiration date, you run the risk of developing food poisoning from unhealthy bacteria that might have grown in the milk. Food poisoning can be so mild you might not even realize you have it, but it can be severe in some cases. You might develop stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea or a fever. It can last for hours or days, and you might start to feel the effects of the bad milk within a couple hours of drinking it.
Spoiled Milk
Fortunately, it's relatively easily to tell if milk has gone bad before or after its sell-by date. One whiff from the carton or sip from your glass usually will let you know that something's wrong. An unusual texture is another clue it's time to dump the milk down the drain. If you're not sure, don't take the chance. It can be much harder to tell if some other foods are harboring unhealthy bacteria. That's why it's important to wash fruits and vegetables, keep hands and work surfaces clean, and cook and store meats properly.
Safety Tips
To keep your milk fresh as long as possible, the Dairy Council of California recommends keeping it refrigerated at 38 to 40 degrees F. The low temperature helps to slow the growth of bacteria. Keeping milk in its original carton with a tight lid also helps to slow spoilage. Don't let it sit on the counter for long periods and never return unused milk to the original container. When you do that, it greatly increases the chances of contamination from outside organisms. It also helps to keep milk toward the back of the refrigerator, since frequent opening of the refrigerator affects the temperature of products near the door.
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