I used to buy milk in cartons - it was thick, with cream on top. Now everywhere it's just some watery liquid, even the expensive stuff. Maybe I'm missing something when I choose it, or has the milk actually changed?
Milk really has changed - most of what's on shelves now is ultra-pasteurized milk, processed at high temperatures for long shelf life, and that kills the richness and taste. Look for milk marked with a short expiration date (usually 7 - 10 days) and preferably from local producers - it's much closer to what you remember.
It's not a conspiracy by manufacturers, though! Back in the day, stores carried milk with higher fat content, and the processing was different too - pasteurization instead of ultra-high-temperature treatment (UHT). Now almost all milk in cartons is UHT, which keeps for months, but that kind of processing breaks down the protein structure and makes the milk thinner. Plus manufacturers lowered the fat content to cater to people who want low-calorie products - demand for full-fat milk dropped, so they started producing less of it.
Try looking for milk labeled "pasteurized" (usually lasts 5-10 days) instead of UHT - it really is thicker and tastier! The downside is there's less of it on the shelves and it costs more. If your city has dairy farms or farmer's markets, they almost always sell real milk with cream - that's the stuff you remember. Another option is goat milk or higher-fat milk in small bottles, though the price is pretty steep.
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