In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “How long after drinking spoiled milk will I get sick?” Also, we’ll explore what symptoms drinking spoiled milk can cause, how milk should be stored, and how to tell if milk has spoiled.
How long after drinking spoiled milk will I get sick?
Usually, if one consumes spoiled milk, one may experience symptoms of indigestion within hours or possibly several minutes.
This will depend on how quickly someone’s digestive function is, how full the tract is, how badly spoiled the milk was, as well as how much of the spoiled milk was drunk.
Naturally, the more spoiled milk is, the higher the concentration of microbes that may cause digestive symptoms, and a smaller volume may need to be ingested to experience symptoms and discomfort.
Overall, if our readers had just a small sip, they shouldn’t worry about severe symptoms, and should simply discard the milk to prevent anyone else from drinking it.
What symptoms can drinking spoiled milk trigger?
Drinking spoiled milk can trigger mild symptoms of food poisoning, such as indigestion, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal aches, etc
Usually, these symptoms will resolve themselves within a day or two, and may not require medical attention.
However, these symptoms may be exacerbated by poor health, or being at a risk that may be especially sensitive to these symptoms, such as pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and patients with compromised immune function.
Severe cases may require a course of antibiotics to address an infection, an in cases with severe dehydration, our readers may require supplementary electrolytes.
Overall, we recommend that our readers be mindful of the state of any food product they consume, and avoid ingesting spoiled food.
How can I store milk?
Our readers can store milk in different ways, depending on its presentation. Pasteurized milk must be refrigerated or stored in a freezer, as this halts the growth of microbes that cause spoilage, and reduces oxidation that can turn dairy fat rancid.
Storing at subzero temperatures is ideal if our readers buy refrigerated milk in bulk.
In some locations, it is common to find ultrapasteurized milk, and this milk may be packaged in aluminum-lined cartons. This milk is shelf-stable and can withstand prolonged periods at room temperature, though it must be refrigerated once opened.
Milk can be frozen, though our readers should bear in mind that if it is low in fat content, separation may occur once it defrosts. For this reason, it’s recommended that milk with a relatively high dairy fat percentage (>20%) be frozen, or milk that will be used in cooking, as drinking separated milk may have a somewhat unpleasant texture.
Powdered milk can be stored in a pantry at room temperature, within a tight-sealing tin box, that should keep out humidity.
How can I tell if milk has spoiled?
Our readers can tell if milk has spoiled by observing its texture, color, smell, and taste.
Notably, spoiled milk will give off a foul or otherwise questionable smell. Additionally, it may be discolored, with a greenish, greyish, or yellowish tint.
Some separation of the components may have occurred, and our readers may find their spoiled milk has curdled.
When milk curdles, it is the product of microbes that lower its pH, increase acidity, and separate casein (curds) from whey (liquid), as a result, the taste will be bitter and unpleasant.
We recommend that our readers exhaust every feasible storage alternative if they won’t be able to consume a cache of milk before it spoils.
Also, we urge our readers to prioritize their health and promptly discard milk at the first sign of spoilage, as it is no longer safe to consume and can trigger symptoms of food poisoning and indigestion, which may be more severe in sensitive individuals.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “How long after drinking spoiled milk will I get sick?” Also, we’ve explored what symptoms drinking spoiled milk can cause, how milk should be stored, and how to tell if milk has spoiled.