Long Life Milk

[tiggerblue10]

I've done a shopping order which is being delivered tomorrow. I went to add my usual long life semi-skimmed but there were no lidded ones available to order. I then popped to my local tesco to get some but the shelves were completely empty. The only ones there were the cartons where you cut to open the spout. I prefer the closable ones as there is only 2 of us and it usually lasts the week. I got some fresh milk instead.

Does anyone else buy long life milk and if so, have you been able to get any? How come fresh milk is still available but long life is only available in the non-lidded variety?

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds like a hold up with the packaging side of things.

[davebro]

Plenty in Aldi - I usually use filtered but keep a couple of cartons of long life in case the inevitable "shortages" LOL.

[davebro]

PS - in the fridge long life will last for a week even if opened.

[tiggerblue10]

I did think that, Mamy. I wonder if other supermarkets have the same supply chain problem.

[Mamyalynne]

There you go Tiggs, off to Aldi to stock up on the lidded ones.

[tiggerblue10]

I suppose I could get the other ones and put some foil over the spout.

[evadora]

Went to my local Tescos this morning and got long life milk with the open and close top no problem. Shelf totally full.

[tiggerblue10]

Aldi is a few miles away and not within walking distance and I don't have any other supermarkets near me.

[tiggerblue10]

I took this photo. https://ibb.co/GH8Qgh0

Probably just my area then.

[Redhelen72]

As soon as there are rumours of shortages the long life milk goes first.

[Hopkirk]

Have they improved the flavour?

I always thought that UHT was ultra horrible taste.

[jno]

some of the long-life cows let themselves go in later life, Hopkirk

[tiggerblue10]

I guess so Helen, along with bog rolls.

I'm happy with it just in my hot drinks, Hoppy. Can't drink it on its own, yuk!

[-SharonA-]

I have a couple of lidded ones in my cupboard. Just in case.

[davebro]

It does taste a bit different but I wouldn't call it horrible, just something you get used to. We used to get sterilised milk back in the day cos fresh would go off if left out on the doorstep. Then fresh milk tasted strange.

[Redhelen72]

I use long life almond milk and even thar ran out during lockdown

[AuntPG]

Tiggs don't you know there are absolutely no shortages or empty shelves anywhere in the country. All the Brexiteers say so, so it must be true. ;-) I think maybe people are buying up the long life milk 'just in case'.

[ladybirder]

Again, not a problem at Waitrose where I buy their own brand of 6-packs Essential Semi-skimmed LongLife.

[davebro]

//even thar ran out during lockdown//

EVEN THAT? You mean there was no milk of any sort available?

[Buenchico]

Fresh milk purchased from my local Co-op often seems to go off before the 'use by' date on it but fresh milk purchased from most of the big supermarkets seems to last well beyond its 'use by' date, irrespective of whether it's been opened or not. For example, I can usually find fresh milk on Morrison's with a 'use by' date at least a week ahead of when I'm purchasing it and it will actually keep for at least 10 days, if not longer.

So I don't buy that much UHT milk but I do keep some as a reserve. The cuppa next to me on my desk right now is made with UHT milk. My problem with purchasing it though is that nearly all supermarkets have discontinued the 1 pint (or 500 ml) cartons. [It's got nothing to do with packaging supply problems though. The 1 pint/500ml cartons started disappearing from supermarket shelves a year or two ago].

Tesco's website shows long life milk only available in what you refer to as 'non-lidded' containers (except for sterilised milk), so it appears that's the packaging that they've decided to go with:
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/shop/fresh-food/milk-butter-and-eggs/milk/long-life-milk

I buy my UHT milk in Morrison's, as they're one of the few stores that now stocks 1 pint (or 500ml) containers. It's particularly handy in my tiny little mini-fridge, as I need to lie milk containers on their side to get them in and the screw caps that Morrison's use don't leak when I do so:
https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/morrisons-long-life-british-semi-skimmed-milk-113599011