The Surprising Reason Costco Milk Stays Fresh Way Past Its Sell-By Date

Yahoo

22-07-2025

Want less grocery waste? You should be buying milk from Costco.
If you're buying milk at Costco, you've likely noticed that the price looks a little different from your usual grocery store.
Right now, a gallon of Kirkland Signature whole milk runs between $3.65 and $3.89, depending on the location of the bulk retailer. That's a decent difference from the national average of $4.03 per gallon, according to the June 2025 Consumer Price Index.
It's not the least expensive milk you can buy, but in a year when food prices for some staples have swung wildly, it's still one of the more stable grocery deals. And unlike many private-label staples, the lower price doesn't mean sacrificing quality. Instead, Costco's milk may actually undergo more testing and quality control than many name brands you're familiar with.
Under the FDA's Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, all Grade A milk sold in the United States must meet basic safety standards. This includes keeping somatic cell counts below 750,000 per milliliter, limiting total bacteria to fewer than 100,000 colonies, and chilling milk to below 45°F within two hours of milking. These rules are designed to prevent major lapses in food safety. Most dairies meet those marks through standard practices, and testing typically occurs once or twice a year, based on records and a few laboratory samples.
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Costco, however, doesn't just settle for the required minimum. According to its 2023 Food Safety & Quality Audit Expectations, any supplier producing Kirkland-brand milk has to undergo surprise inspections at least once a year — or twice, if the facility is in China. These audits cover both the farm and the milk processing plant, and suppliers are expected to pass inspection with zero critical issues. If a facility scores below 85%, it faces re-auditing within 60 days. And if a supplier skips Costco's additional audit requirements, inspectors will return at the supplier's expense.
There's also a testing policy for every batch of milk that will bear the Kirkland name: 60 microbial tests are run before anything ships out. If even one of those fails, the product is held back.
Furthermore, water used during processing is monitored more closely than federal standards require. Public water systems are tested annually for E. coli, and private wells are checked each quarter. To keep its production precise, Costco rotates lead auditors every three years, bringing in new eyes to avoid complacency and make sure nothing slips through.
That extra scrutiny may help explain why so many Costco shoppers swear the store's milk lasts longer. On the r/Costco subreddit, dozens of members share their own experiences. One redditor says, '​​I find that with Costco milk it isn't even spoiled a week after the expiration date most times. Anyone else have this experience?' Another chimes in, saying, 'Yes. I prefer Costco milk because it does last longer than anything else.' It's not lab data, but it sounds like a pattern.
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According to the Penn State Extension, milk from herds with lower somatic cell counts tends to stay fresher longer. If a dairy can keep its herd average below 200,000 cells per milliliter, that's considered top-tier quality. But if those numbers rise above 400,000, milk may spoil faster — and producers might even face penalties. The closer the milk is to that ideal range, the longer it tends to hold up once it lands in your fridge.
Cleaner milk from healthier herds, processed under stricter controls, generally lasts longer in real-world conditions, especially when it's left unused for several days. If you find that Kirkland milk routinely outlasts its printed date by two to three days, that's likely thanks to lower bacteria and cell counts verified by each lot's extensive testing. That eventually translates to fewer spoiled jugs, savings for your wallet, and less overall waste.
In a dairy industry built around scheduled inspections and spot checks, Costco's retailer-led model quietly raises the bar. Bulk pricing doesn't have to mean minimal oversight, and in this case, paying less might actually get you more.
Read the original article on Food & Wine
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