milk
Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of all mammals. It provides the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. The early lactation milk is known as colostrum, and carries the mother's antibodies to the baby. It can reduce the risk of many diseases in the baby. The milk humans drink is most commonly from cows, goats, sheep, water buffalo and yaks. The exact components of raw milk varies by species, but it contains significant amounts of saturated fat, protein and calcium as well as vitamin C. Cow's milk has a pH ranging from 6.4 to 6.8, making it slightly acidic.
By fat content[]
The terminology for different types of milk, and the regulations regarding labelling, varies by country and region.
Canada[]
- Whole milk – creamline (unhomogenized) milk
- Homogenized milk – 3.25% butterfat (or milk fat)
- Skimmed milk – 1%, and 2% milk fat milks
Generally all store-bought milk in Canada has been homogenized. Yet, the term is also used as a name to describe butterfat/milk fat content for a specific variety of milk. Modern commercial dairy processing techniques involve first removing all of the butterfat, and then adding back the appropriate amount depending on which product is being produced on that particular line.
United States[]
- Whole milk – 3.25% butterfat content
- 2% or Reduced fat milk – about 2%
- Semi-skimmed – 1.5 – 1.8%
- 1% or Low fat – about 1%
- Skimmed milk – 0.0 – 0.5%
United Kingdom[]
- Channel Island milk or breakfast milk – 5.5% butterfat content
- Whole milk or full fat milk – 3.5%
- Semi-skimmed – 1.5 – 1.8%
- The One or 1% – 1%
- Skimmed – Less than 0.3%
Milk past it's use by date[]
Most of us have drunk milk past its use by date but children and adults with weakened immune systems definitely should not do that. [1] You don't want to throw milk that smells fresh away? Try boiling it and making something like porridge or a milk pudding.
Non Dairy Creamer[]
Non dairy creamers are alternatives to cream, they are not recommended as they can contain quite unwholesome ingredients. [2]