Some facts about milk
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| bottle milk |
- Milk is a liquid product that comes from the breasts or udders of animals that nurse their young. These animals are called mammals.
- The exact components of raw milk vary by species and by a number of other factors, but it contains substantial amounts of saturated fat, protein and calcium as well as vitamin C.
- Although cow's milk is by far the most widely used, man has used milk from the mare, goat, ewe, camel, ass, zebra, reindeer, and llama. Cow's milk contains proteins, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals.
- Cow's milk has a pH ranging from 6.4 to 6.8, making it slightly acidic.
- Milk has been considered almost a perfect food.
- Some cultures, historically or currently, continue to use breast milk to feed their children until they are 7 years old.
- Because it is easily digested, milk is the chief food of infants. Adults, too, should have milk in order to get calcium and other needed vitamins. The milk of the Jersey and Guernsey cows is especially rich in fat. Skim milk, almost fat-free, is usually fortified with extra vitamins lost with the fat and is used in weight-control and cholesterol-control diets.
- The largest producer and consumer of cattle and buffalo milk in the world is India.
- Federal, state, and local laws in the U.S. demand pasteurization of milk. This means heating according to standards to destroy any germs that may be present in the milk. It is also frequently homogenized so that the different components of the milk are thor-oughly mixed.
- The term milk is also used for white colored, non-animal beverages resembling milk in color and texture such as soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, and coconut milk. In addition, a substance secreted by pigeons to feed their young is called crop milk and bears some resemblance to mammalian milk.
- Milk products include buttermilk, cheese, butter, cream, and ice cream. Milk by-products are cold-water paints, waterproof glues, face creams, buttons, combs, artificial wools, plastics, drugs, soft drinks, and insecticides.
