New York City is the only city in the country that sets its own rules for milk. The health code mandates that milk can only be sold in the metropolis within nine days after pasteurization (prior to 1987, it was four days)—a law that dates back to the 1950s, when it was common practice to resell milk (that was about to expire) from out-of-town venues to New York City markets. But even the health department seems a little confused as to the provenance of the ruling. In 1998, John Gadd, a spokesman for the department, told the New York Times that it was a consequence of the fact that milk shipped to the city was likely to remain unrefrigerated for long bouts before reaching stores.