Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Milk Ettiquette

Just wondering, when I'm buying milk, am I obliged by invisible yet weighty social expectation, to take the bottle in the front row that expires in a week, rather than a bottle from three rows back that expires in ten days?

Logic tells me that it makes sense to do a little hunting to find the bottle that's going to last longer, the bottle that's been on the shelf for the shortest amount of time, the milk with the least possible time between teat and bottle.

But whenever I do the hunt, I feel very self conscious, like the cashier, and just humanity in general, are frowning at me. Am I doing the wrong thing? Should I be sucking it up and taking one for the team? Should I be helping out the shopman by helping him get rid of old stock? A conundrum is what it is. I look forward to heaven, where the milk on the shelves will have no expiry date.

So, fellow humankind, how do you circumnavigate this dilemma?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

exactly what you do mate.

Crazyjedidiah said...

I believe that your meant to take the one in the front because the ones at the back are at the back because they will last longer, and the ones at the front were previously at the back. Also we probably go through a lot of milk anyway.

Anonymous said...

I always just grab the ones at the front. But we go through a bit over 3 litres a day, so I'm not too fussed about it not getting drunk in time.

Deb said...

Seriously, you have three kids. How can milk dates be an issue? The only weighing up I'm doing in front of the milk fridge is whether I need ANOTHER 2L to make it through the week. I remember those quiet, happy days when there were just the two of us and milk could actually go off before it was used. Three kids later, milk going off is just a freaky scientific theory to us.

Katrina said...

Given we use for different types of milk in our household, it's assessed on a 'milk by milk/week by week' basis :)

Karen said...

I always take ones from the back. Even though now we have four kids we would get through at least 3L every 1-2 days so the use by date is really not an issue.

Just habit, I guess...

KIM said...

Yep, I take it from the back ... though I also have a problem with it then going off BEFORE that date. Errrg.

Ben McLaughlin said...

Okay, I get the 'you go through a lot of milk so it doesn't have time to go off' arguement. But I think it's a bit beside the point and red herringish.

The point is, on the shelf in front of me are two products. I have the free dom to take either, and they are the same price. However, one is of a lower standard than the other, going on the principle that milk deteriorates over time.

Now, with that in mind, I am more than happy to take the older, dodgier product if that's what I'm asked to do. But you see, I'm not asked, and there's no acknowledgement. I'd say that if I am called to take one for the team, and do the shopman a kindness, there should be some acknowledgement of this. It's the presumption of it that I resent. What would this look like? Hmm, not sure. A couple options-

1) a wee note on the fridge door saying 'Hi, Shopman here, just wanted to ask if you'd do me a kindness and take the older milks so that we can work together to make the milk situation better for everyone. Thankyou so much, I acknowledge you are taking the substandard product to help me out. Sincerely, Shopman'

2) or utilise musical birthday card technology, where there could be a little pre-recorded round of applause that sounds when you close the shop fridge door. Just a bit of acknowledgement of your heroics.

Jessica said...

I get the longest possible date. I even spend more money on A2 milk just cos it has a longer expiry. I figure I'm single, so I NEED all ten days to use up two litres on my own. A family can come along after me and get the shorter expiries and they wont even care cos they probably use two litres a day.

Jessica said...

BUT I DO FEEL NAUGHTY.

Meredith said...

I ALWAYS take the ones from the back. Always. We don't use much milk in this house - and I want good milk for my tea all week. And I figure I have limited shopping dollars so I want to make sure I buy what is going to make the distance so that I'm not throwing grocery money down the sink.

I think let the ones who get through three litres a day and have to buy milk several times a week take it from the front and let the people like me who make three litres last the week take it from the back.

Crazyjedidiah said...

1. Four letters WWJD? I know not everyone who reads this blog is a christian but those who are think about it.

2. If you are not going to get through 2 litres by 1 litre.

Ruth said...

I take the ones at the back, and we go through ridiculous amounts of milk in our household of six kids!

I used to feel guilty, but I don't anymore because life is unpredictable and I need to give my family the best chance of not being sick....my kids never check expiry dates, and who needs kids vomiting up off milk!!

Laetitia :-) said...

Not an issue here as soy milk often has an expiry date three weeks away - gotta love plant-based products. :)

That being said, I still often take the later expiring ones (old habits die hard) and don't feel guilty about it because there have been plenty of times when I've come too late for the three week ones and only get the two week ones...or none at all because it's a pov store that doesn't stock it.

Unknown said...

I think you shouldn't feel bad. If shop man wants people to drink the old milk he could offer a small discount and it would go in no time.