Why are milk sold in Canada in bags instead of bottles? Here is the reason for the surprising habit.

In Canada, milk shopping is carried out in a way that differs from many other countries. On store shelves, milk sold in plastic bags appears alongside glass bottles and cardboard cartons.

This packaging type, especially common in the province of Ontario, attracts the attention of tourists visiting the country. According to data shared in 2021, at least 75% of the milk consumed in the province was sold in bagged packaging.

The Bagged Milk Tradition Began in the 1970s

The spread of this method in Canada is rooted in the country's shift to a new measurement system.

In the 1970s, when Canada transitioned to the metric system, it was decided that milk would be sold by the liter. The glass bottles that were widely used at the time became disadvantageous because they were heavy, fragile, and incurred higher transportation costs.

Manufacturers of plastic jugs and cardboard packaging had to modify their machines to accommodate the new measurement system. In contrast, the systems used for producing plastic bags could be adapted to the liter measurement with only minor adjustments.

Because they are cheaper, bag packaging became widespread in a short time. In Ontario, four‑liter milk cartons were made standard in 1978.

Three Separate Bags Sold Together

In Canada, four‑liter milk cartons bought from supermarkets contain three separate plastic bags instead of a single large package.

Those who want to use the milk place one of the bags into a specially designed funnel. Then the upper corner of the bag is cut with scissors to make it pourable.

Some consumers also punch a small hole in the opposite corner of the bag to let the milk flow more easily.

However, this method has a drawback. Because the bag cannot be resealed after opening, those who want to keep the milk fresh must consume the product quickly.