The "notched" Japanese milk packaging hides a secret — netizens exclaim: "We shop weekly and never noticed!"

For those passionate about traveling in Japan, Japanese milk is a must-drink beverage, seemingly magical — you could drink it like water every day, not just a glass with breakfast but even a bottle before boarding a flight. Recently, however, the "notched" packaging of milk sold in Japanese convenience stores has sparked discussions among netizens in Taiwan and Japan, with many exclaiming that there’s actually a hidden feature in the milk carton design.

A Japanese netizen pointed out on Twitter that the small notch on fresh milk cartons can actually be used to distinguish 100% raw milk. A carton with a notch indicates it is 100% fresh milk, with no adjustments to its ingredients; a carton without a notch means it is milk that has undergone ingredient adjustments, such as low-fat milk, high-calcium milk, coffee-flavored milk, and other processed dairy products.

This difference in milk packaging is actually designed to help visually impaired individuals identify the product — a practice that has been in place in Japan for years. Examples include textured lines on shampoo and conditioner bottles, raised dots on alcoholic beverages, and notches on home delivery slips, all thoughtful details for the visually impaired.

However, there is no mandatory requirement in Japan for manufacturers to indicate whether a notch is present, so not every carton of 100% raw milk necessarily has a notch. A netizen from Taiwan commented, "Who knew? We shopped weekly and never noticed," "No need to pick up each one individually anymore," and "Kids, elderly people, and those with poor eyesight can now buy it themselves."

The "notch" can be considered an internationally recognized "tactile identification mark" to assist visually impaired individuals in identifying which end is easier to open. (Image provided by Tetra Pak)

Additionally, after inquiring with a Taiwanese manufacturer that supplies beverage cartons to the Japanese market, Tetra Pak stated that the "notch" is an internationally recognized "tactile identification mark" to help the visually impaired determine where it is easier to open the package. This groove design is especially common in cartons with a capacity of one liter or more, but it is not necessarily related to the contents inside.