What is up with the expiration date on the milk being sold in Northern Virginia Sheetz stores? My local Sheetz has been selling Maola milk (from local dairies) that has an expiration date that is at least five months, yes, months away. I purchased two 12-ounce milks on April 15th that expire “09 Sept 2025”, how in the world is that possible? Even if it were ultra-pasteurized, it wouldn’t last that long.

Maola Local Dairies is a dairy company located in Herndon, Virginia, United States. The company was purchased by Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc., currently based in Herndon, Virginia, in 2003. North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. (Wikipedia)

According to the Maola milk website their milk lasts 5-7 days, but the Code Date or Sell by Date, means that the milk should remain fresh up to that date.

I have sent them an email, I guess we wait….

Within 30 minutes of my sending Maola the email, they replied with a very solid answer. Kudos to Maola!

Our 12oz has recently become an Ultra High Temperature (UHT) product. UHT pasteurization kills any harmful bacteria in the milk, and then it is bottled immediately in a sterile environment into special packaging that prevents any air from reaching it. This procedure makes the milk shelf stable. This sterile environment, coupled with ultra-high temperature pasteurization, creates fresh milk that can be stored unrefrigerated for months and still taste delicious when opened later. You may see similar processing techniques in milk found in the dry goods section of your grocery store. After opening, these products should still be enjoyed within seven days and refrigerated, as is traditional with other milk products.