You may have noticed. The milk you buy in the shop has a longer shelf life than before. It was not many years ago that milk was “only” kept for around two weeks. Both Tine and the Q dairies state that they are working with clear targets for a longer shelf life. The Q dairies have increased the shelf life of the milk from 14 to 20 days, with an increase of 3 days since last year. The goal is shelf life of 22 days. Tine states that the date stamping for sweet milk has been extended by five days only since 2020. The company does not want to state how many days they have extended the date to, and indicates that the information is “competitively sensitive”. On the shop shelves, there has been tougher competition around the best-before date. Photo: Stian Sørum Røkenes / news Less consumption The background is that we drink far less milk today than we did in the past. The food supply statistics, which the Directorate of Health came out with a couple of years ago, show that the consumption of milk has been steadily decreasing since the 1950s. While each Norwegian drank over 200 liters of milk on average a year in the mid-1950s, the corresponding figure is now around 70 liters a year. It’s true that we eat a little more yogurt and cheese, but it’s not close to compensating for drinking less milk. The date stamp has thus become a competitive factor in itself: When choosing between two different products, the consumer prefers the milk with the longest shelf life. – We have seen that it is possible to extend the shelf life, among other things, through new equipment, says Kristine Aasheim, managing director of Q-Meieriene. – We have a clear ambition to be the best in terms of durability for consumers, says Heidi Grønnevik, head of raw materials and rental production in Tine. Heidi Grønnevik in Tine acknowledges that there is competition around the date stamp Photo: TINE Longer shelf life Both Tine and the Q dairies state that they are making more moves “in the entire value chain” which will lead to the milk turning sour more slowly than before. Tina. Focus on proper washing and good maintenance, which takes care of the milk raw material that comes into the dairy in a good way. The company is also working to reduce the time from when the milk arrives at the dairy until it is out in the shop. On certain days, the milk leaves the store the same day it arrives at the dairy. The Q dairies. Have invested in new equipment, including a so-called baktofuge, which makes it possible to “clean” the milk twice. In addition, the company has invested in new bottling lines, which are a closed system. It helps to maintain a high level of hygiene. With the help of Bactofuge, the milk can be cleaned an extra time, according to Q-dairy. Photo: TetraPark Often good after date stamping Both Tine and the Q dairies are clear that there is a clear difference between “best before” and “use by date”. Most dairy products are marked with a “best before” date and can keep just fine for several days afterwards. In 2016, the Information Office for Dairy Products, Melk.no, carried out an experiment where the milk was stored in a cold room at two degrees – and tasted and smelled daily. Then the milk was perfectly fine and drinkable over a month after the date stamp, more precisely 41 days. The milk is “often good after” the date on the carton. But it’s a lot about how you handle the milk, say both Tine and the Q dairies. Photo: Stian Sørum Røkenes / news Even so, there are some pieces of advice that are important to follow in order for the milk to last longer than the date stamp, according to the milk producers. Make sure to shop for food at the very end of your shopping trip, so that refrigerated items stay cold. Check that the fridge holds a maximum of four degrees. Do not leave the milk out for too long. Do not drink from the carton, bacteria from you can affect the shelf life. Do not open several cartons at a time, milk lasts longer in unopened packaging. Cover food in the fridge that has a strong smell well, so the milk doesn’t change its taste. Managing director of Q-dairies, Kristine Aasheim, says consumers can extend the shelf life of milk with a few simple steps. Photo: Q dairies
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The dairy takes action – the milk sours more slowly than before – news Vestland
