In today’s competitive marketplace, it has become essential to extend the shelf life of dairy products beyond the traditional 14- to 16-day code dates. Ever-increasing distribution distances and high customer demands have greatly contributed to this need. Is 18 to 21 days shelf-life an attainable goal and should dairy plants be striving for this longer shelf-life?
The answer is “yes” and “yes;” however, test results indicate that approximately half of all dairy plants in the United States have not achieved this goal. In fact, many plants have difficulty reaching a shelf-life of 14 to 16 days.