Study: Grocery store LED lights can hurt the taste of milk

The way milk is sold in some grocery stores could hurt the way it tastes, according to new research.

A news release issued by Cornell University reveals that the LED lights often used to illuminate milk containers can actually "[degrade] the perceived quality of milk."

In fact, researchers found that consumers preferred two-week-old milk with no LED contact much more than fresh milk that had been exposed to the light for just a few hours.

And this outcome was consistent for their experiments with both skim and two-percent varieties.

Scientists have been aware that some of milk's qualities are known to be "adversely affected by exposure to the sun and artificial light sources."

This negative reaction occurs because "Riboflavin and other photosensitive components in milk are activated when struck by light energy, releasing a cascade of electrons that can degrade proteins and oxidize fats."

As a result, it can take on a taste similar to that of cardboard or plastic.

Based on their findings, "The researchers suggest manufacturers could turn to better light-blocking packaging to reduce the damaging effect of all light types."