Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What does the date on a container mean?
- A: The "Sell By" date means that the product should remain fresh up to that date when unopened and properly stored.
- Q: How long will the product last after the expiration date?
- A: Dairy products are very perishable. For best quality, you should use the product before the expiration or "Sell By" date. The number of times the product has been opened and resealed and the amount of time left out of the refrigerator during each use impacts how long it will last. Also, drinking straight from the container affects perishability as bacteria from your mouth may cause the product to spoil faster. Your sense of smell and taste are great indicators of how fresh the product is. If the product looks, smells and tastes OK, it is probably fine to eat or drink.
- Q: Can refrigerator temperature affect the shelf life of milk?
- A: Yes, the temperature of your refrigerator definitely affects the shelf life of dairy. Setting the temperature at 38 degrees should ensure a shelf life of seven days beyond the "sell by code" stamped on the bottle.
- Q: How long should the product last after opening?
- A: How long a product lasts after opening depends on several things:
- How close to the "Sell By" date the product was originally opened.
- How many times it has been opened and resealed.
- How long it is out of the refrigerator or freezer each time.
- Whether the product was consumed directly from the container.
Milk should remain fresh 5-7 days after opening when treated properly. If you open milk for the first time on or near the "Sell By" date, the milk may not last this long.
- Q: What dairy products can I freeze?
- A: Follow these general guidelines:
- Milk - Can be frozen for up to 30 days. You may detect some off flavors after thawing. Always thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator.
- Dips and Dressings - Freezing of dips is not recommended, as it will change the appearance and texture of the products. They may become grainy and watery.
- Cottage Cheese - When cottage cheese is frozen, ice crystals swell and break the curd structure, resulting in a mushy, watery texture when thawed.
- Sour Cream - For most sour creams, freezing is not recommended because it will change the appearance and texture of the product, which may become grainy and watery.
- Fat-Free Sour Creams These products tend to be more freeze/thaw-stable than low-fat or regular sour cream. However, for best quality, do not freeze.
- Creams - Whipping cream will not whip up properly if it has been frozen.
- Eggnog - You can freeze eggnog for later use, although you may detect some off flavors after thawing. Always thaw frozen product in the refrigerator.
- Q: Does chocolate milk contain caffeine?
- A: Yes, chocolate milk contains about 3.7 mg. of caffeine per 8-ounce serving, or 7.5 mg. per 12-ounce serving. A 12-once serving of root beer has about 23 mg. of caffeine, while brewed coffee has 203 mg.
- Q: Do dairy products contain sugar?
- A: Many dairy products contain lactose, the sugar naturally present in milk. Sugars are not listed on product nutrition panels unless other sugars have been added.
- Q: Where can I find your products?
- A: You can find Tuscan products in many of your favorite local stores. Look for us in the following fine retailers: Pathmark, Stop & Shop, A&P, Waldbaums, King Kullen, Gristedes, Food Emporium, D'Agostino's, Food Basics, Key Foods, Supremeo Food Market, Seabras, Gourmet Garage, Dean & Deluca, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Target, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart. In addition, you will find us in many smaller stores and convenience stores.
- Q: Does Tuscan Dairy Farms milk contain antibiotics?
- A: No. All milks, regardless of producer, are requried to be tested for antibiotics, and any antibiotics that are found in the milk is rejected. Therefore, like all milk purchased in your favorite store,Tuscan Dairy Farms does not contain any antibiotics.
- Q: Does Tuscan Dairy Farms buy milk from cloned cows?
- A: Based on the desire of our customers and consumers, Tuscan Dairy Farms will not accept milk from cows that have been cloned. If the FDA does approve the sale of milk from cloned cows, we will work with our dairy farmers to implement protocols to ensure that the milk they supply to us does not come from cloned cows.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to conclude that milk from cloned cows is safe. Our decision not to accept this milk is based on meeting our consumers' expectations. We see no consumer benefit from this technology.
Numerous surveys have shown that Americans are not interested in buying dairy products that contain milk from cloned cows and Dean Foods is responding to the needs of our consumers.
- Q: Do you provide monetary or product donations to charitable organizations?
- A: Yes - please send us an email via the contact us form.
- Q: How can I inquire about employment?
- A: Please make an inquiry using the contact us page.