Why does organic milk have a longer expiry date than normal milk?

I was buying groceries with my health-conscious friend at the supermarket the other morning, and this question came to our mind. Despite the fact that organic milk being naturally produced, why does it last longer than the conventional milk? Some organic milk can even last for months, which makes me doubt the definition of the word “organic”.

Being organic has no link with the expiry date

After some research, the reason is that the expiry date of the milk does not relate to the milk being organic. The expiry date is based on the type of pasteurization process used to preserve the milk.

Organic milk means that no use of antibiotics, growth hormones and the like were used on the cows producing the milk.

Organic milk is subsequently processed by means of pasteurization to prolong the life of the milk. Different pasteurization methods ensues the different expiry dates. To put it simply, milk can last longer the longer and higher temperature it undergoes pasteurization. Ultrahigh Temperature (UHT) treatment is quite commonly used to pasteurize organic milk.

However, in the process the milk loses some of its nutrients and vitamins, and of course, tastes different.

Are chemicals added during pasteurization?

Pasteurization is heating the milk to kill most of the bacteria for it to last longer. It is heartening to know that pasteurization is not a chemical process, and thus no chemicals are added.

In conclusion

While organic milk might achieve the health benefit you are looking for, the process of preservation is also important to make sure you capture the nutritional benefits you are looking for.