IN an idle moment I had an argument with myself which still rankles as, in my mind, it remains unresolved . It concerned a carton of milk with the message “Use by Jan 4”, which sounds like a health warning . At first I thought any milk remaining on the morning of January 4 must be disposed of . Then I thought the message was that the milk could be consumed throughout January 4 but no longer as, otherwise, it would have said something like “ Use before Jan 4”.

As I dislike unnecessary waste, at the risk of troubling A&E at my local hospital, I finished the milk on the morning of January 4 and I have felt no ill effects ... so far. Should such warnings be ignored as a marketing exercise to boost sales or should I try to get out more?

Alan Fitzpatrick,

10 Solomon’s View, Dunlop.