Can I use milk after the ‘use by date’?

Last updated 26/03/2024

In Australia there are two main types of date marking: ‘best-before’ and ‘use-by’. These dates are used to determine the shelf-life for the food to be stored before it starts to decrease in quality or potentially become unsafe to eat. 

Any food that has passed its ‘best-before’ date may still be perfectly safe to eat, but may not be the best quality, whereas a ‘use-by’ date is the last date on which the food may be legally sold and safely eaten. After this date, the food should not be eaten for health and safety reasons, as any food past the use-by date has the potential to cause illness through food poisoning. Whether a food needs a ‘best-before’ or ‘use-by’ date depends on the type of food it is.

Fresh pasteurised milk falls into the second category of date marking that requires a ‘use-by’ date, although it is likely you would smell when it's past it’s shelf life before you drink it. Pasteurised milk will keep fresh for about 12 to 14 days if kept below 4°C (refrigerator temperature). The reason fresh milk manufacturers have to include a use-by date on the label is that, like all chilled foods that are eaten in the same state in which they are sold (e.g. cheese, yoghurt, milk), some bacteria can grow to dangerous levels, even if the food is kept refrigerated, before the food noticeably spoils.

The best advice is to follow the milk manufacturer's instructions on the label. Stick to use-by dates as they usually indicate the date until which the product can be safely consumed. If your milk is spoiling before the use-by date on the container, your refrigerator may be too warm.

See also: Can I drink milk a day after its used by date?