Toned milk facts for kids
Toned milk is a special kind of milk that was first developed in India. It is made by taking buffalo milk and mixing it with skim milk, which is milk with all the fat removed, or powdered skim milk and water. This process helps to lower the fat content of the milk. It also increases the total amount of milk available. The 'toning' process makes sure the non-fat parts of the milk stay at their original level. This method helps to make milk more affordable and available to many people, so it is not just a luxury item.
Toned milk is often used in places where it is hard to produce enough milk, or where many people need milk. In these areas, regular milk might have a lot of fat. Removing this fat using machines can be too expensive.
Buffalo milk naturally has a high fat content, usually around 7-8%. It also contains important things like calcium and about 9-10% non-fat solids. By using the toning process, the fat content is reduced to about 3%. This simple step can almost triple the amount of milk that is available for people to buy and drink.
Double-Toned Milk
Double-toned milk is very similar to regular toned milk, but it has even less fat. In this type of milk, the fat content is reduced to just 1.5%. The amount of non-fat solids is increased to 9%. This special milk is often given out by organizations like UNICEF. They provide it for free to young people who do not have homes and to families who do not earn much money. Unlike single toned milk, double-toned milk is always treated with pasteurization. This process heats the milk to kill harmful germs, making it safer to drink.
Standard Milk
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a group that sets rules for food in India. They have also created a definition for something called Standard Milk. This type of milk must have at least 4.5% fat. This amount is higher than the fat in regular cow's milk or toned buffalo milk, which usually has about 3.5% fat. However, it is less than full cream buffalo milk, which can have around 6.5% fat. This makes standard milk a good balance of fat and cream content for everyday use.
