Skimmed milk facts for kids
Skimmed milk (called skim milk in the United States) is a type of milk where almost all the cream (which is also known as milkfat) has been taken out. When only half of the cream is removed, it's called semi-skimmed milk instead.
Skimmed milk is quite popular in the United States. It has much less fat than regular whole milk. Because of its lower fat content, some health experts suggest it for people who want to manage their weight. Skim milk can sometimes taste a bit watery, which some people might not prefer.
Contents
What is Skimmed Milk?
Skimmed milk is made by removing the fatty part of milk. This process makes the milk have very little fat. It's a good choice for those looking for a lighter drink.
How Milk is Labelled in the UK
In the United Kingdom, milk is sold and labelled based on how much fat it contains:
- Whole milk has about 4% fat.
- Semi-skimmed milk has about 1.7% fat.
- Skimmed milk has a very low fat content, usually between 0.1% and 0.3%.
How Milk is Labelled in the USA
In the United States, milk is also sold based on its fat content, but with different names:
- Whole Milk has 3.25% fat.
- 2% Reduced-Fat Milk has 2% fat.
- 1% Lowfat Milk (sometimes called Light Milk) has 1% fat.
- 0% Fat-Free Milk (also known as skim milk or Nonfat Milk) has almost no fat.
Understanding Low-Fat Milk
Low-fat milk has had enough milk fat removed so that its fat level is between 0.5% and 2%. This type of milk also contains other important parts of milk, like proteins and sugars. It often has added Vitamin A to make it even healthier.
What Makes Skim Milk Different?
Skim milk, also called nonfat milk, has had almost all of its milk fat removed. This means it contains less than 0.3% fat. It's the lowest fat option among milk types.
See also
In Spanish: Leche descremada para niños
