Have you seen these individual milks (looks similar to a juice box)? The grocery had a special, so I bought 2 so I could let the kids try them, and they LOVED them. However, what is the idea behind them being on the shelf and not the refrigerated section? How is that possible? Google'd this, and couldn't really find why it doesn't have to refrigerated.... Thoughts?
All the previous answers pretty much sum it up. I bought one for my six year old once, but no way would I pay a dollar plus for a milk juice box, essentially.
There are lots of milk brands that aren't refrigerated. They go through a pasteurization process that allows them to be on the shelf, but once opened they must be refrigerated. Parmalat is another brand like that.
I think it's the Ultra High Temperature (ULT) Processing.
Watch the sugar intake from the flavored milks! It's VERY high.
and, as far as "organic", Horizon is not the most "friendly" organic dairy:
Check this out:
http://www.wisebread.com/horizon-organic-milk-is-it-all-j...
Boxed milk is quite normal overseas in other countries. I just moved back from Central America where sometimes it was actually safer buying the boxed milk than buying the local "fresh" milk. I'm not a fan of all the chemicals they put in the boxed milk to keep it from going bad. Like others have said it does have to be refridgerated after opening.
Not being exposed to light is part of the reason they shelf it till it's opened, but I dont think it's the best milk to get. Do some research.
the previous answers sound right..my kids also like them, you can buy a 24 pack at bj's for much less than the $3 for 3 at the grocery store :)
I read the packaging once and it said something about the carton being made especially to keep it from spoiling or something. I work at a "bulk" warehouse and they sell it, thats how I found out- thought it was weird it wasnt cold.
Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization. If you heat the milk hot enough for a long enough period of time, you not only sterilize it, but denature the proteins that can cause it to spoil normally which makes it safe to leave at room temperature. But it does destroy some nutrients and the denatured proteins do not taste the same. This is why I don't typically by organic milk - I've found very little (even in the refrigerated section) that ISN'T ultra-high temperature pasteurized.
However they do it, it's the same as chicken broth in those boxes and other boxed food that doesn't have to be refrigerated, like Dinty Moore Stews, etc..
That is because they are ultra pasteurized. From whatever research I have done, ultra pasteurization is done to prolong shelf life of milk and in the process a lot of nutrients are lost. Even their regular milk is quite a bit pasteurized (i mean more than normal). One web-site even called them the worst organic brand for milk. So, the milk boxes you are talking about, I consider them only slightly better than juice.
