Further proof that New Yorkers are special: we have our very own expiration date on dairy products. But does our milk actually spoil a week earlier than the rest of the world? According to an article in The New York Times from 1982…
New York City is the only place in the state and one of relatively few in the country that has its own dating system for fluid milk, which may legally be sold only up to 96 hours after 6 A.M. on the day after pasteurization.
The expiration date does not mean that the product is unfit for consumption beyond it. Anywhere from a few days’ to a couple of weeks’ leeway is allowed so that with proper storage the consumer can assume the product will remain wholesome for a time in the home. How long not only is determined by storage conditions and usage but also varies widely from product to product and brand to brand.
NYC Nosh also adds…
If you purchase your dairy products from a 24-hour corner store or major chain grocery (places where someone is always around to accept delivery shipments) and bring it home right away, you are likely to have avoided any extended period of non-refrigeration and might want to use the later date as your guide. If, on the other hand, you choose to have your dairy products delivered to your door (as many New Yorkers do), you should probably pay attention to the earlier date.
