Food Safety

Kids Love Cold Milk!

Milk tastes best when it is served cold, between 35-40°F. When it comes to nutrition, not all beverages are created equal, so help ensure kids choose milk by serving it the way it tastes best.

Tips for Serving Milk at Its Best:

• Place milk in a cooler immediately after delivery; store towards the back of the cooler and away from the door.
• Verify quality by monitoring milk temperatures at the beginning and end of every meal service every day.
• Serve milk directly from refrigerated crates, coolers, or barrels.
• Rotate deliveries and serve milk cartons on a first-in-first-out system.
• Close drop-front or reach-in milk coolers between meal service periods to keep the cold air in and milk temperatures down.
• Check the equipment at your school and ensure it’s in the best possible working condition.
• Clean milk cooler vents on a regular basis.

Did You Know? Cold milk stays fresh longer.

Temperatures above 40°F reduce the shelf life of milk. The shelf life of milk is shortened by 50% for every 5°F increase in temperature over 40°F. Strive for 35°F – the temperature milk stays fresh the longest!

Safe Milk Handling Resources:

• Milk Cooler Temperature and Cleaning Log Sheet
• Milk Quality Checklist
• Thermometer Calibration
• Milk Safety Brochure
• Helpful Reminder templates for Sending Meals Home for Students & Parents
• Standard Operating Procedures:
  • Insulated Milk Bags*
  • Milk Barrels*
  • Using Time as Control

*Schools selecting this option may reuse milk if the temperature log shows that milk has been maintained at 41 ⁰F, or below when temperature of the barrel/bag is monitored.*

Learn more about dairy nutrition and why milk should be encouraged with every school meal.