Milk, as a common beverage in our daily lives, not only comes in a variety of flavours and types, but it is also rich in nutrients and provides calcium supplementation. There have been discussions on the topic of milk, including "Is milk suitable for consumption?", "Is it meant for people or cows?", or “Is it only necessary for children?"

Here, PhytoFairy will answer all these milk-related questions.

Regarding the need to consume milk, it is suggested in the Malaysian Food Pyramid that one can drink 1-2 glasses of milk a day. Of course, food intake is a personal choice; as long as it is food, it can be consumed, except for spoiled food. Firstly, milk is rich in many nutrients such as proteins, calcium, vitamins and minerals. A glass of milk (250ml) contains approximately 8g of protein and 250mg of calcium. For a healthy adult, the required daily calcium intake is 1,000mg, while for women over 50 years old, 1,200mg of calcium is recommended.

Pasteurised milk and UHT milk undergo different sterilisation methods, and each has its unique characteristics:

1. Pasteurised milk

Pasteurised milk is sterilised using pasteurisation by heating at 72°C for 15 seconds, effectively killing most bacteria. It has a relatively shorter shelf life of about two weeks. It is more expensive due to the need to maintain low temperatures throughout the transportation and storage process, resulting in higher costs. However, pasteurised milk retains the fresh flavour of milk and has a relatively purer texture.

2. UHT milk

UHT milk, on the other hand, is sterilised using the Ultra-high temperature (UHT) method at 135°C for 2 to 5 seconds, a much higher temperature that kills bacteria more thoroughly. It has a longer shelf life of about 6 to 9 months and can be stored without refrigeration. UHT milk is relatively cheaper.

In fact, they all have similar nutritional values, but UHT milk may affect some vitamins during the high-temperature sterilisation process. However, worrying too much is unnecessary as the main proteins and calcium are not significantly affected. When choosing pasteurised milk or UHT milk, you can consider it according to your personal needs and circumstances. Pasteurised milk has a purer taste, while UHT milk is more convenient, has a longer shelf life and is relatively less expensive. For both pasteurised and UHT milk, the recommended storage time in the fridge after opening is up to 3 days. If at room temperature, it is recommended to be consumed within 3 hours, and re-refrigerating is not encouraged. Also, freshly milked milk from cows is unpasteurised and is not recommended for direct consumption.

There are various types of milk:

1. Fresh Milk:

Fresh milk is freshly milked from cows and goes through sterilisation and packaging directly. It has a fat content of between 3.3% and 3.8% and is rich in flavour and nutrients. Fresh milk is classified as full-cream milk, which consists only of fresh milk with no added ingredients.

2. Full-cream Milk:

Usually processed from fresh milk into milk powder and then reconstituted into liquid milk. Full-cream milk has a fat content of 3.3% to 3.5%, with a rich taste and abundant nutrients. However, not all full-cream milk is fresh milk. It is usually labelled as "recombined milk" on the packaging, which may include milk solids, vitamins, minerals and stabilisers.

3. Low-fat Milk:

Skimmed milk with a fat content of about 1.3% to 1.5%. It has a smoother texture.

4. Skimmed Milk:

Skimmed milk has a fat content of no more than 0.2% and has a thinner texture.

5. Flavoured Milk:

This type of milk is usually flavoured with various flavourings, and it is important to note that most flavoured milk has higher sugar content.

This is a common question asked by many people. It is recommended that healthy adults and children over one year old can choose to drink full-cream milk. If possible, fresh milk is a better option as the ingredients are relatively simple and additive-free. If you are concerned about the fat content, you can choose low-fat milk.

Lastly, milk is a nutritious beverage. The choice between full-cream and low-fat milk depends on personal preferences and health needs. Different types of milk have their unique characteristics. In the following article, PhytoFairy will share more about milk. We are looking forward to sharing more knowledge about milk with everyone. Until next time!