Learn the causes and signs of spoiled milk, like changes in smell, taste, and appearance.

Plus, what happens if you accidentally drink it.

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Keep reading to learn what happens if you drink spoiled milk.

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clinical dietitian and founder of Chelsea Nutrition

Experts in This Article

clinical dietitian and founder of Chelsea Nutrition

Why does milk spoil?

Milk curdles in part because of bacteria, says gastroenterologist and internistNiket Sonpal, MD.

How do you know milk has gone bad?

An image of four wine glasses on a wooden surface

Although refrigerating milk slows the process, it doesnt fully prevent it from spoiling.

Depending on the state you live in, the label may have different requirements.

If your state falls into the latter category, you’re free to apply Maengs advice.

Young woman mixing ice coffee

The best case scenario is that youll throw it out immediately after noticing the smell.

What are the signs of spoiled milk?

So, what happens when milk spoils?

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

clinical dietitian and founder of Chelsea Nutrition

What is the difference between sour milk and spoiled milk?

Newsflash: sour and spoiled are not synonymous when it comes to milk.

Both processes cause the milk to increase in acidity, giving it a sour taste, and to congeal.

Two cups with coffee and green tea on a beige background.

While on the topic, sour and spoiled milk are just two stages of dairy.

According to Maeng, theres also raw and curdled milk.

Raw milk is milk that has not undergone pasteurization, she explains.

red pigment in a wooden spoon

Therefore, it contains a lot of pathogenic bacteria and poses a high risk to those who consume it.

In these cases, curdled milk is safe to consume.

Just verify the milk was not curdled, to begin with.

What are the risks of drinking spoiled milk?

How long after drinking bad milk do you get sick?

(Other than wanting to immediately spit it out.)

What do I do if I drank spoiled milk?

If you dont experience any symptoms, nothing.

Mild cases of food poisoning usually pass on their own in due time.

Dr. Sonpal recommends making sure yourestaying hydratedso your kidneys dont suffer.

What bacteria is in spoiled milk?

Dr. Sonpal notes that bothsalmonellaandE.

colihave been found in pasteurized milks.

And as a hard-and-fast rule, he recommends avoiding milk that hasnt been pasteurizedno matter your age.

Still, youll want to consume it within seven to 14 days.)

Is it safe to drink expired powdered milk?

The easiest way to avoid doing so is to check your milk labels regularly.

Instead, wait for signs of spoilage, she says.

Yes, we all learned as children not to cry over spilled milk.

Spoiled milk, however, is a different story.

Do yourself a favor and take a whiff before you drink a glass.

An RD shares an in-depth guide to alternative milks:

Buehler, A J et al.

Psychrotolerant spore-former growth characterization for the development of a dairy spoilage predictive model.Journal of dairy sciencevol.

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