Comments on: Why do dairy products leave me with a bad taste?

Question: Why do dairy products leave me with a bad taste?

ooklala — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:15:25 -0800

Why did dairy products suddenly start giving me a horrible aftertaste?

About a week ago I bought some eggnog (Stony Brook). It was delicious, but I noticed a weird lingering bitterish aftertaste, and attributed it to the eggnog being stale. A few days later, I had some cereal with milk (regular corner bodega whatever brand), and noticed the same aftertaste. I thought maybe the milk had gone bad too. On Sunday, I had an ice cream sundae, enjoyed it and then about 5 minutes later, you guessed it--same aftertaste.
What has lead to this phenomenon?

I don't really like drinking milk as is, but like ice cream, eggnog, and cereal with milk, and really want to be able to enjoy them again.

By: Electrius

Electrius — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:42:03 -0800

It's probably your body telling you that, for whatever reason, dairy is now a no-go zone. It will probably fade in time, but I would recommend not eating any dairy until then.

By: thebrokedown

thebrokedown — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:44:32 -0800

Have you been taking any new medications?

By: chez shoes

chez shoes — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:59:01 -0800

Do you have any other symptoms (bloating, gas etc)? I'm thinking lactose intolerance. I have a similar carbohydrate intolerance, to fructose, and one of my earliest symptoms was an unpleasant aftertaste when I'd eat it.

By: kuujjuarapik

kuujjuarapik — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:11:09 -0800

Do you use a dishwasher that doesn't rinse properly?

By: koeselitz

koeselitz — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:21:27 -0800

Often refrigerators have particular smells that communicate amongst the food in there. Just one possibility.

By: salvia

salvia — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:53:15 -0800

Did you just start doing Bikram yoga? (Or maybe any kind of intense exercise?) I've heard from a few folks that they quit dairy shortly thereafter because it didn't feel good or taste good.

By: idiotfactory

idiotfactory — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:32:09 -0800

Sometimes this happens when I indulge in too much dairy. Also, you might be getting sick. Sad sinuses do weird things to taste buds.

By: The Light Fantastic

The Light Fantastic — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:56:02 -0800

I'm voting for lactose intolerance...welome to the club! The easiest way to rule this out is to buy a small box of lactaid tablets and take them before you eat dairy. If the aftertaste disappears, then you have your answer.

By: crazybrave

crazybrave — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:31:19 -0800

You're probably not lactose intolerant. Milk is a seasonal product, and the cows are probably eating something that changes how the milk tastes.

By: le morte de bea arthur

le morte de bea arthur — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:14:42 -0800

Did you switch your toothpaste or mouthwash? Some types have strange flavour interactions with foods.

By: planetkyoto

planetkyoto — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:59:48 -0800

You may have a decaying tooth. Happened to me.

By: amtho

amtho — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:10:44 -0800

I've noticed it, too, and I hardly ever consume dairy. Try organic dairy products -- they taste much better to me.

By: plastic_animals

plastic_animals — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:24:11 -0800

This happened to me too about a month ago. For a few days eating anything dairy gave a bad aftertaste. I avoided milk products for about a week. The bad aftertaste didn't reappear once I started using them again. Like crazybrave, I assumed it was just the seasonal change, from fresh grass to silage and hay, in the cow's diet.

By: Namlit

Namlit — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:06:41 -0800

Many modern dairy products gone old start tasting bitter. Typical example for this household here would be double cream, which I sometimes buy for cooking and for use in my tea, and then tend to forget about. In the old days, cream (and milk) turned sour and that was that - still useful in cooking. But no amount of spices can mask cream gone bitter...
Anyway. Your idea that the eggnog was a little off makes sense.
When this happens to me, I need some days to get rid of the reminiscence of that taste, even in fresh products. Maybe that's happened to you. Wait a week and try again.

By: qwip

qwip — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:40:14 -0800

I just wanted to point out that I don't think it has anything to do with lactose intolerance. That's something to do with digestion, not taste. I'm lactose intolerant (in fact, I'm close to lactose umbrage...), and I love the taste of milk and milk products. Does nothing to change the taste.

Something else going on, me thinks. I won't offer a guess as to what, however.

By: workerant

workerant — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:43:59 -0800

I find that milky dairy products like milk (duh), puddings and ice cream leave me with such a bad aftertaste that I avoid eating them at all. Cheese doesn't do this. I use soy milk on cereal and just avoid ice cream unless I know I can brush my teeth after.

I don't think I'm lactose intolerant; I eat a great deal of cheese without incident. I don't remember when this started, so I suspect I've always gotten a funny taste from milk.

By: The Light Fantastic

The Light Fantastic — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:02:38 -0800

I don't think I'm lactose intolerant; I eat a great deal of cheese without incident. I don't remember when this started, so I suspect I've always gotten a funny taste from milk.

I'm extremely intolerant to the lactose in Milk, Ice Cream and especially Whipping Cream - which will make me feel like I'm going to die. Cheese doesn't bother me, nor does yogurt. The first symptom that I've consumed too much lactose is a sour taste in the back of my throat - followed by awful gas and stomach pains.

By: exphysicist345

exphysicist345 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:47:06 -0800

Assuming dairy tasted OK to you until you drank the eggnog, I would look at what was going on for you just before you drank the eggnog. For example, did you have an illness? (Once, when I was just over influenza, my taste changed dramatically, then went back to normal after a week. Illnesses can do strange things to us.)

By: St. Alia of the Bunnies

St. Alia of the Bunnies — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:44:12 -0800

Are you taking any new medication? For instance, topamax ruins the taste of a lot of foods-for example, soda. I suppose other medications could have similar effects.

Also, if you happen to be female, pregnancy can affect one's taste buds.

By: iivix

iivix — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:39:56 -0800

Planetkyoto:

> You may have a decaying tooth. Happened to me.

Yep, another vote for nasty aftertaste being a symptom of tooth decay, you might want to see your dentist if it doesn't go away.

By: ooklala

ooklala — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:20:03 -0800

It seems to have gone away, (I avoided consuming dairy for a while).
Thanks!