A: Because organic milk is often ultra-pasteurized.

As we all know, raw milk contains bacteria that can make you sick, so it's pasteurized to kill that bacteria. With standard pasteurization, the milk is heated to about 161 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds. With ultra-pasteurization, the milk is heated to 280 degrees for just two seconds. This higher temperature is more lethal to the bacteria which extends the milk's shelf life.

Ultra-pasteurized milk is no different nutritionally from milk that has been pasteurized the standard way. It just lasts longer. The "sell by" date for most pasteurized milk is 14 to 21 days after processing. For ultra-pasteurized milk, the sell by date is usually 45 to 55 days.

By the way, if stored at the proper temperature - between 34 and 38 degrees - all milk should be good for a few days past the "sell by" date.

Q: WHEN I BUY SOMETHING ONLINE WITH MY CREDIT CARD, WHY DO THEY ASK FOR THAT A 3-DIGIT OR 4-DIGIT CODE?

A: It's done for security reasons - to make sure you have the card.

Many online merchants require that you give them what's called the CID or Card Identification Number before you can complete the transaction. The CID is a 3-digit number on the back of Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards, located right on the signature line. It's a 4-digit number on the front of American Express cards.

By giving that number, you are showing the merchant that you have the card is your possession.

So say someone snagged your account number from a credit card receipt they found. That receipt doesn't have the CID number on it, so the thief couldn't use your card number to buy things at sites that require this information.

Q: CAN A CAR DEALER CHECK MY CREDIT REPORT IF ALL I DO IS TAKE A TEST DRIVE?

A: They can, but they're not supposed to do that unless you give them permission.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, a "test drive" does not indicate your intent to buy or lease a vehicle, so it does not "initiate" a business transaction. That means the dealer cannot check your credit report. Should a dealer want to check your file before or during a test drive, the FTC says the dealer must get your written permission to do that.

So when can an auto dealer check your credit report? Basically, when it becomes clear to both you and the dealer know that you are negotiating the purchase or lease of a vehicle and there's a legitimate need to check your credit history. For instance, when you are request financing.