If you see these two words, you bought "fake milk". Here's how to identify it →

Dairy products counter in supermarket

There are so many types that it's hard to tell where to start.

Fresh milk, formulated milk, skimmed milk, etc.

I don't know how to choose

Sometimes accidentally

You will also buy "fake milk"

Today, Dr. Ke will teach you

How to distinguish and choose the milk that suits you

There are four common types of milk: ambient temperature milk, fresh milk, yogurt and formula milk.

(1) Fresh milk: The raw material is cow (sheep) milk, which has been pasteurized. It has a short shelf life and needs to be refrigerated. The price is higher than room temperature milk.

(2) Room-temperature milk: also known as sterilized milk. The raw material is cow (sheep) milk, which has been sterilized at ultra-high temperatures and can be stored for a long time at room temperature.

(3) Yogurt: Made from raw cow (sheep) milk or milk powder, it is sterilized and then fermented with probiotics.

(4) Formulated milk: The content of raw cow (sheep) milk or reconstituted milk is more than 80%, and other ingredients such as food additives and nutritional enhancers are added. Common formula milks include chocolate milk, peanut milk, etc.

The so-called "fake" milk does not have the nutritional level of pure milk from the perspective of the proportion of nutrients.

For example, milk-containing beverages have "milk" in their product names, but they are essentially beverages, and the main raw material is water, not milk. Their protein content is much lower than pure milk, and the protein content per 100 grams may be around 1-2 grams, such as strawberry-flavored milk, chocolate-flavored milk, etc.

It’s not that these milk-containing drinks cannot be drunk, but the nutritional value of drinking two bottles is not as good as one bottle of pure milk. If you just drink it as a drink , it is also a good product.

Another type is formula milk . According to the "National Food Safety Standard Formulated Milk" (GB 25191-2010), formula milk is made with no less than 80% raw cow (sheep) milk or reconstituted milk as the main raw material , and other raw materials or food additives or nutritional enhancers are added. Common ones include xx high-calcium milk, xx low-fat high-calcium milk, xx lactose-free milk, etc.

In general, formula milk can also be used to supplement protein and has a rich taste, but most of them contain sugar, so it is recommended to try it out and drink it occasionally . In the supermarket, you see breakfast milk with the word "cereal" on it, which may also be a milk-containing beverage in essence, and some are formula milk. You need to look at the nutrition label for details.

Generally, the protein content of pure milk is at least about 2.8g. In the nutritional composition table of this kind of "fake" milk, the protein content is less than that of ordinary milk. Therefore, the first place in the ingredient list of real milk must be cow's milk or reconstituted milk.

However, many people mistakenly believe that reconstituted milk (reconstituted milk) is also "fake" milk. In fact, it is just milk with a different production process. Milk is first made into milk powder (for easy transportation, etc.), and then water is added to reconstitute it. It is not "fake" milk. It will be sterilized at high temperature during the processing, and it will be subjected to high temperature again after mixing. Although it will cause a small part of the nutrient loss (negligible), it is still a dairy product and is rich in protein and calcium.

Internationally, reconstituted milk is a commonly used dairy ingredient and is used as a milk source adjustment in areas with insufficient milk supplies.

(1) Look at the name

The first judgment can be made from the name. Products with the words "drinks, beverages" in their names are usually milk-containing beverages rather than real milk. Real milk packaging has the words "pasteurized milk, fresh milk" clearly written on it.

(2) Pay attention to the ingredient list

Almost all beverages have an ingredient list that starts with water , while the first ingredient in the ingredient list of real milk is raw milk or reconstituted milk , and the shorter the ingredient list is, the better. The above-mentioned formula milk will be followed by a lot of nutritional enhancers, edible flavors and other substances. Although they taste better, they cannot provide high-quality nutrition.

(3) Sterilization method

The low sterilization temperature can better retain active proteins, soluble calcium, vitamins, etc., making the taste closer to the nutrition and flavor of fresh milk.

Generally speaking, the higher the protein content, the better the quality of the milk. According to China's requirements for milk products, the protein content in every 100 ml of pure milk cannot be less than 2.8g. Therefore, milk with a protein content of more than 3.0g is also good milk.

The difference between real and fake milk is only summarized based on the nutritional content, which does not represent a quality issue. You can choose based on your personal preferences, taste, and drinking habits.

(1) Storage method

Don't expose milk to the sun: Milk contains vitamins B and C, which will disappear quickly if exposed to the sun. Data show that even weak sunlight exposure for more than 6 hours can reduce its vitamin B by half; sunlight can also cause lactose fermentation and milk deterioration. After buying it, place it in a cool, dark place.

Do not freeze (quickly freeze): After fresh milk is frozen, the fat and protein in it are separated, the casein is powdered and coagulated, the taste is obviously thinner, and the nutrients are not easily absorbed . Of course, pasteurized milk should be stored in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and should be consumed as soon as possible.

(2) Healthy drinking methods

Do not steam or cook at high temperatures: the protein in milk will change from a sol state to a gel state when heated for a long time, resulting in precipitation and a sharp drop in nutritional value.

Do not drink on an empty stomach: If you drink milk on an empty stomach, the protein in it will be converted into energy for consumption; drinking milk on an empty stomach may also cause gastrointestinal discomfort, so it is best to eat starchy foods (such as bread, cake, etc.) at the same time.

There are many types of dairy products on the market

In this article, Dr. Ke summarizes some tips for distinguishing

Choose the milk you need more scientifically through the ingredient list

Have you learned it?

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Source: Guangdong Science and Technology, The Paper

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