After cleaning your mouth, drink some water to help dilute out any residue. Milk is a highly nutritious, but is a perishable food containing protein, fat and sugar. The milk sold today is pasteurized, meaning the milk is heated for a brief period of time to kill disease-causing bacteria; however, this process does not kill ALL bacteria. The sugar present in milk lactose allows bacteria to grow and multiply which will lead to spoiling. Keeping milk continuously refrigerated and sealing the container well after each use will help to keep milk fresh for up to a week past the sell-by date on the package.
A small sip of spoiled milk is unlikely to cause symptoms beyond a bad taste. Drinking larger amounts of spoiled milk can cause stomach distress resulting in abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea like a food-borne illness. In most cases, symptoms caused by drinking spoiled milk resolve within hours. Avoid taking any medication to stop diarrhea because anti-diarrheal medications decrease the elimination of whatever caused the problem. If you or your child has ingested spoiled milk, do not panic.
Rinse the mouth thoroughly and give them some water to drink. If problems start or you have questions, call the Missouri Poison Center right away at The poison center is open all day, every day for poisoning emergencies and questions. Call Now. To make sure you are getting the best information for your individual situation, click below to call or chat. The scent is hard to miss and gets stronger with time. The taste also begins to change, as the natural sweetness of fresh milk is quickly replaced by a somewhat acidic or sour flavor.
With enough time, the texture and color of milk that has spoiled will change as well. It may begin to develop a slimy, chunky texture and dingy, yellow color. The rate at which milk spoils depends on many factors, including the number of spoilage bacteria present, temperature at which the milk has been stored, and light exposure 1.
Milk spoils due to an overgrowth of bacteria that compromises its quality. You know your milk is spoiled if it has an unpleasant odor or taste or changes texture.
The terms spoiled and sour are often used interchangeably to describe milk that has gone bad, but there may be a subtle difference between the two — depending on who you ask. Spoiled milk usually refers to pasteurized milk that smells and tastes off due to the growth of bacteria that survived the pasteurization process.
On the other hand, sour milk often refers specifically to unpasteurized, raw milk that has begun to naturally ferment. Much like spoiled milk, the fermentation of raw milk occurs due to various species of lactic-acid-forming bacteria, a small percentage of which are considered probiotics and may offer minor health benefits 3. Spoiled milk usually refers to pasteurized milk that has gone bad, while sour milk may refer to raw milk that has begun to ferment.
Most people are immediately turned off by the foul smell and taste of spoiled milk, which makes the decision about drinking it a relatively easy one. It can cause food poisoning that may result in uncomfortable digestive symptoms, such as stomach pain, nausea , vomiting, and diarrhea.
Drinking spoiled milk can cause digestive distress, such as vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.
Additionally, you can add spoiled milk to homemade face masks or a bath to soften your skin. Still, you may want to mix it with essential oils or other fragrant ingredients if you find the smell overbearing.
Spoiled milk can replace buttermilk or sour cream in baked goods. It can also be used to tenderize meats or added to soups, casseroles, or salad dressings.
You can likewise use it in certain cosmetic applications to soften your skin. Milk spoilage is the result of an overgrowth of bacteria that compromises the texture, flavor, and overall quality of milk. Often, psychrotrophic bacteria , which can grow under cold conditions, are responsible for milk spoilage. The production of milk involves several stages that aim to kill off these bacteria to extend the shelf life. Milk production follows guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture.
The processing of milk involves:. Several other stages may also be necessary, including further filtration or ultra high temperature treatment. Pasteurization kills off most but not all bacteria in milk, which can continue to grow after processing. After opening milk at home, new bacteria can enter it and grow, eventually causing the milk to spoil. Expiration dates are poor indicators of whether milk is safe to consume.
The smell and appearance of the milk are clearer signs of how safe the milk is for consumption. Spoiled milk will produce a sour smell as the bacteria produce lactic acid. The smell will intensify after the milk becomes unsafe for consumption. A yellowy color, crusts around the edges, and lumps in the milk also indicate that it is off.
The processing of milk has a significant effect on how long it stays fresh and safe to consume. However, people can take steps at home to extend this duration. These include :. Drinking small quantities of spoiled milk can cause no symptoms or some minor symptoms, which will typically go away on their own. For example, it can cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. Spoiled milk is unlikely to cause any long-term problems. However, drinking raw, unpasteurized milk is dangerous.
Raw milk contains harmful pathogens that cause food poisoning, including :. Expiration dates relate to milk quality, not safety. Milk is generally safe to consume after the expiration date for at least a couple of days. People will typically be able to tell when milk is bad, as the smell and appearance indicate any spoilage.
The type of processing that the milk undergoes can affect how long it will stay fresh. However, it is still advisable to store milk properly and safely, such as by keeping it in the refrigerator.
Drinking spoiled milk can cause some mild symptoms, but it is not usually harmful in the long term.
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