We've all been there. You're ready for your morning cuppa or bowl of cereal, only to discover that the last bottle of milk in the fridge is passed its use-by date.

我们都经历过这种情况。 你正准备享用早晨的一杯茶或一碗麦片，却发现冰箱里最后一瓶牛奶已经过了保质期。



For many, the temptation is to give it a quick sniff and if it doesn't smell off, decide it's fine to use. However, experts are advising against this common practice, suggesting it should be discarded along with the expired milk and failure to do do could even leave you sick.

对许多人来说，一般会快速闻一闻，如果没闻到异味，就决定可以喝。 然而，专家建议不要采用这种常见做法， 建议应将过期牛奶丢弃，否则可能让你生病。

While some supermarkets have eliminated use-by dates on milk, others still maintain them. These products with a use-by date need careful attention.

虽然一些超市已经取消了牛奶的保质期标注，但其他超市仍然保留。 这些标注了保质期的产品需要格外留意。

The Food Standards Agency warns that relying on the sniff test could potentially lead to illness. They advise: "It's not safe to use the sniff test for any food with a use-by date. The sniff test won't work as you can't smell the bugs that cause food poisoning.

英国食品标准局警告称，依赖闻味测试可能会导致生病。 他们建议：“对于任何标注了保质期的食品，使用闻味测试都不安全。 闻味测试不起作用，因为你闻不到导致食物中毒的细菌。

"Milk and some other dairy products like yoghurt can have either a use-by date or a best before date. The manufacturer decides which date marking is the best for the food they produce. Whether these foods have a use-by or best before date is down to the manufacturer and the way the food is processed.

“牛奶和一些其他乳制品，如酸奶，可能有保质期或最佳食用日期。 制造商决定哪种日期标记最适合他们生产的产品。 这些食品标注保质期还是最佳食用日期，取决于制造商和食品的加工方式。

"If a food has a best before date the sniff test can be used - the best before date is about quality, not safety. You can smell food with a best before date to see if it has spoiled."

“如果食品标注了最佳食用日期，则可以使用闻味测试——最佳食用日期涉及的是质量，而非安全。 你可以闻一闻标注了最佳食用日期的食品，看看是否变质。”

It adds: "You can also use visual cues, such as whether you can see mould or if there are any changes to texture. Food with best before can be eaten after the date on the pack, however they may not taste as good as they did before.

该机构还补充道：“你还可以通过视觉线索来判断，比如是否能看到霉菌或质地是否有变化。 标注了最佳食用日期的食品可以在包装上的日期之后食用，但味道可能不如之前好。”

"It's always better to check the storage, use-by and best before dates when you buy food so you can help ensure it's safe and to prevent waste."

“购买食品时，一定要检查储存条件、保质期和最佳食用日期，这样可以帮助确保食品的安全，并防止浪费。”

How can I give my milk a longer life-span?

如何延长牛奶的保质期？

You can freeze milk if you've got too much but don't want to waste it. According to the Dairy Farmers of Canada, unopened milk can be frozen in its original packaging for up to six weeks.

如果你牛奶太多但又不想浪费，可以将其冷冻。 据加拿大奶农协会称，未开封的牛奶可以在原包装中冷冻长达六周。

It also has other tips to make the most of your milk. It says: "In general, milk should be refrigerated at a temperature of between 0 °C and 4 °C. Keeping milk cold is critical to ensure it stays fresh, lasts longer, and keeps its delicious taste.

该协会还提供了其他充分利用牛奶的建议。 “一般来说，牛奶应在0°C至4°C的温度下冷藏。 保持牛奶低温对于确保其新鲜、持久且保持美味至关重要。”

"The key is not to break the "cold chain" between the grocery store and home. And, once home, to keep it in the fridge as much as possible."

“关键在于不要打破从杂货店到家的‘冷链’。 而且，一旦到家，就要尽可能将其放在冰箱里。”

素材来源：iYuba