Things going "off" quicker?

Is it just me or do things go bad here quicker than in the US?  In the States the sell by date is just a guideline and things (milk etc.) are usually good for a few days beyond that.  Here I've noticed that things are bad a few days before their sell by date.  Maybe it's the shop I frequent?

I haven't had anything go before their sell-by date, but I do notice things go bad more swiftly. Things like cream, sour cream and creamcheese (do you see a theme developing here?), which I can usually count on to be good forever in the States, go off soon after their sell-by.

I think we pasteurize more heavily in the US, for good or ill.

Yes! Milk goes off right on the date and it goes all lumpy as opposed to just sour.  Very odd.  Except milk from M&S for some reason.  

My husband said he noticed this in Germany and never before a few years ago in the UK, but then his family had 5 kids so I bet the milk wasn't around long enough.  

I haven't had anything go before their sell-by date, but I do notice things go bad more swiftly. Things like cream, sour cream and creamcheese (do you see a theme developing here?), which I can usually count on to be good forever in the States, go off soon after their sell-by.

I think we pasteurize more heavily in the US, for good or ill.

I would say you are correct, but I only bought organic milk in US and that lasted forever, even longer than regular milk.  Of course, it was still pasteurized.   

Nope, it's not just you - I had the same trouble when I moved to the US, but the other way around .

Here in the UK, I'm used to bread lasting about 3-4 days before going stale, things like soft cheese/cream cheese only staying fresh for a couple of days after being opened, milk only lasting a few days and jars of sauce (i.e. pasta sauce) having to be consumed within 3 days of opening. I was quiet shocked when I got to the US and my roommate told me that my food could stay in the fridge for a good couple of weeks before going bad!!

I'm assuming the reason is because foods in the US have a lot more preservatives and things in them to keep them fresh for longer, which UK foods don't have so much of.

If I buy milk from the corner shop it goes off on or by the date.  Milk from supermarkets last much longer.  I find cream cheese lasts.

Sorry if this is obvious, but do you need to turn your fridge up?

Vicky

I'm assuming the reason is because foods in the US have a lot more preservatives and things in them to keep them fresh for longer, which UK foods don't have so much of.

Except, like I said, I use only organic dairy and it lasted well past the sell date at home. 

I've noticed it with bread.  It goes stale faster and moldy way faster in the UK.  Weird.  Anyone know why?  Is it something to do with the climate here?

Carl

I've noticed it with bread.  It goes stale faster and moldy way faster in the UK.  Weird.  Anyone know why?  Is it something to do with the climate here?

Carl

It's the preservatives - or lack thereof.  I've found that the only bread I can count on to last anywhere near the length of bread in the US is Kingsmill - which seems to be the only one with preservatives.

Except, like I said, I use only organic dairy and it lasted well past the sell date at home. 

Sorry, I was in the process of writing my reply when you posted and only skimmed over the replies before hitting send . I've always assumed that it was due to extra preservatives, but that's just a guess on my part - maybe it's not the case after all.

What I've mainly noticed is that a lot of UK dairy products (such as cream cheese, brie and other soft cheese), jars of sauce etc. say 'consume within 3 days of opening' on the packaging, whereas I don't remember seeing this written on similar US products (which was the reason for me asking my US roommate)... so I assumed there was something slightly different in the product ingredients if they could be kept in the fridge for longer than 3 days. With milk, I've always consumed it or thrown it away by the sell-by date so I couldn't say whether or not it lasted past that date in either the US or the UK.

I've noticed it with bread.  It goes stale faster and moldy way faster in the UK.  Weird.  Anyone know why?  Is it something to do with the climate here?

Again, I guessed that it was due to preservatives being added to US bread - in the US I found that supermarket bread (i.e. packaged on the shelves, not freshly baked) would last for 2-3 weeks before starting to go stale, but in the UK, it goes stale in maybe 3 or 4 days.

Humidity is a factor with bread. Our bread in the US has to be refrigerated to keep it a reasonable time during the summer. In winter we keep it out. In the UK, I think humidity is a constant issue.c

I do find the dairy things like cream cheese, yogurt and sour cream last longer here. I'm guessing it's preservatives but now I'm curious and am going to pay attention more. Plus, we're starting to buy a few more 'organic' or 'natural' items so I'll see if that makes a differece

Horizon milk lasted forever at home. 

Humidity is an issue and with bread I bet preservatives are part of the issue.  I didn't buy store bread at home my parents wouldn't let me eat it as a kid and I just never ate much bread. 

I tend to laugh in the face of sell by dates but I have noticed differences in some things.  Bread goes bad a lot quicker here but it scares me slightly that US bread can stay good for so long. 

I buy Cravendale milk and never have a problem with it going off. I guess because it is filtered? 

Humidity plays a small part in the bread issues - hence keeping it in a breadbox here rather than out on the counter - but the vast majority of the longevity of commercial bread in the US vs the UK is the preservatives.  I grew up in the Deep South in a house with no A/C (a hotter, stickier more humid environment than any here in the UK) and my bread still lasted over a week - it'd go stale before it went moldy!  Not so much the case here in the UK.