My friend Katie recently had a post on whether or not it was true that low-fat milks can contain dried milk powder without saying so on the label. There are posts here on my blog with this claim, so I felt the need to look into it more since Katie said this information (not just on my blog but on other sites including the Weston A. Price website) is “incredibly outdated and plain wrong.” I’m all about finding the truth, so here goes…
Read an email exchange I embarked on, beginning with Sally Fallon Morell:
“Hi Sally, I'm just curious if you've seen this post from Kitchen Stewardship on dried milk powder and have any thoughts on it?”
Her reply: “Non-fat dried milk (skim milk powder) is not currently added to our, or any of our direct competitors lowfat or fat free milks (skim milk) and, any direct addition of a dried milk powder would require it to be included on the label to meet current United States labeling requirements.” This is not true. Ellen Ussery looked into this quite a bit. She found that dairies ARE adding powdered milk and the FDA regulations say that powdered milk could be labeled as “milk.” So “milk” on a label can include powdered milk. Sally”
Sally gave me Ellen’s email so I could contact her…
“Hi Ellen, I'm hoping you can shed some light on this issue. I'd love to know what you think. Thanks so much!”
“Hi Kelly, Wow, Sally has a good memory! This was many years back. The sum of the information was put into a letter to the editor of the Journal. I will try to find it and get back to you. As I recall it recounts my Kafkaesque experience trying to get a straight answer about this from one of the major milk companies. All I got was double speak: they used a great deal of circumlocution and would not say the specific words: no powdered milk. So it was Orwellian too and made me even more curious. I tried searching the FDA regs, but am not good at that sort of thing. Then I remembered an old classmate of mine had been an under secretary of something food related in the Clinton administration. She was able to locate the precise page of the regulations on milk that said something like : dry milk, powdered milk and some other things may all be labeled as milk. I believe I put the directions to locate that specific regulation in my letter to the Journal. It is possible that the regs have changed since then. Also, if they haven't changed it is very likely that not ALL milk companies add powdered milk. But if those regs are still in place, you cannot tell from the label and if they use the same kind of double speak you may not get the truth over the phone. Will get back to you when I find the letter I wrote. Keep up the good work, Ellen”
“Wonderful!!! Once I hear back from you, could I share this info with my readers??? Thanks again, Kelly”
Kelly, “Here it is from the Winter 2005/Spring 2006 Journal. Feel free to use it or any part of it you wish. The thing is, unless regulations have changed in the last 5 years, they CAN indeed add powdered milk and not declare it. I wouldn't take anyone's word for it either. I would have to see the new regulations to believe there has been a change. I will be watching your blog and the Kitchen Stewardship one. But if you do find out anything that truly contradicts what I wrote I would love to hear about it. Ellen”
This is what Ellen wrote in the journal:
Not on the Label
One thing I always tell people who think they are being so careful about their health and drinking low-fat milk is the fact that it may contain powdered milk and doesn't have to say so on the label because it is an industry standard. I got the distinct impression that the last person I told this to thought I was into conspiracy theories and so began my search for the the actual document wherein this is stated. I couldn't find it on the FDA website, but I am not too good at that kind of research. So I called the number on a carton of milk that my neighbor had to see what the producer's PR people would say. Talk about a Kafkaesque experience! After much skirting the issue the woman finally said that it's not powdered milk that's added but milk solids and that this is stated as such on the particular types of milk to which it is added. However she never did say whether there was such a regulation or not, thereby avoiding the question of whether it might in fact be in the other kinds of milk with no indication at all. When pushed she did explain that milk solids are from “fluid milk that has the liquid removed.” After more prodding she did allow for how that was accomplished by heat. But still staunchly refused to call it powdered milk! This was followed by a series of phone calls trying to find the people who actually made these milk solids, which took me through the labyrinth of corporate dairy–many names of many companies, of a constantly moving shell game, but all connected and became apparent when one frustrated woman on my sixth phone call transferred me to good old Tiffany, the woman who answered my first phone call. Resorting to other means I finally found the actual regulations. They are in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Volume 6, Chapter 1, Subchapter E, Part 501. Item (3) states: Skim milk, concentrated skim milk, reconstituted skim milk and nonfat dry milk may be declared as “skim milk” or “nonfat milk. ” Item (4) states: Milk, concentrated milk, reconstituted milk and dry whole milk may be declared as “milk.” Ellen Ussery
Hume, Virginia
“Ellen, This is great information, thank you so much! I'll just post this and if Katie or someone has time to research it further, great. Thanks again Ellen! Kelly”
Katie, if I know you, and I know you (!), you’ll be all over this and if there is any more to learn or if you find out anything different, I’m sure I don’t have to ask you to keep us all in the loop. 🙂
- Here's my original post on Which Milk is Best if you're not ready to make the move yet to raw milk
- The whole scoop on raw milk is here – posts about how we originally chose raw milk, how to choose a raw milk dairy farmer, safety issues, etc.
- Learn why raw milk is the best milk for us: Raw Milk Benefits and Information: Q & A with Mark McAfee
***UPDATE 6/10/11 I just spoke to a guy who is in charge of the facility that supplies milk for Dean and Meijer. He said that he knows there are some companies who “fortify” their milk with dried milk powder to give it the creamier feel people are used to in milk, but they (the company he works for) haven't offered a fortified product in years. Their milk meets the ‘standard' amount of natural solids, so they don't need to fortify it. The only thing in their milk is milk and added vitamins, which he assumes are synthetic, but he doesn't know for sure. He said that companies have to label it as ‘fortified' as well as putting it on the ingredient label if they add anything back in. I asked if they could get around that and NOT label it since the milk powder is technically still ‘milk'. He didn't think so, but wasn't sure…
kevin says
Also, this is a good read:
https://nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com/is-powdered-milk-bad-for-you.aspx
KitchenKop says
Both very good articles, and I agree with most of it.
I’ll surely keep avoiding powdered protein or dairy products!
Kelly
kevin says
Curious on your thoughts:
https://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/mar/18/lz1f18focus183640-dont-worry-about-oxidized-choles/
Genet says
I found this doing some research. I have been thinking about powdered milk recently. I’ve been building up some food storage here and have everything . . . .except the powdered milk?
But now, I am leary? Is it ok? or Not ?
And what about powdered goat’s milk ?
Ok or not ?
Having some powdered milk is kinda nice for baking or hot cocoa or whatever at times and something I’d consider adding to my emergency hurricane food stash.
Any brands that are ok ?
KitchenKop says
You’ve got me re-reading this post again, too, Genet!
I’d say powdered milk of any kind should be avoided, except maybe in emergency situations.
What recipes do you sometimes use it in? I can help you with work-arounds. Like cocoa for example, real whole milk is all that’s needed with extra cream to get it extra dreamy-licious of course. 🙂
Kelly
KitchenKop says
I just added an update to the post above, not that it provided any definitive information, but you may want to check it out anyway if this topic interests you! 🙂
Pasturefed says
One day long, long ago at a Kwik Trip gas station, my raw milk drinking farm kids purchased cute little bottles of milk…got out to the van and they immediately all spewed the milk, shuddering and shreiking “Gross”, “Yuk” etc. to which I admonished them saying “It can’t be that bad – knock it off!” One taste of my own and I shouted, “It is POWDERED milk!” and promptly forgave the nasty outburst from my usually well mannered children. Forgot all about it until now when this subject came up…..
Heather H. says
I am feeling very blessed right now to live so close to a wonderful co-op of farmers that provide us with raw milk, from cows that eat only grass. From that milk I make all my own dairy products.
We all really need to commit ourselves to fighting for the cause of Real Raw Milk! This is such an important issue! We should be allowed to choose what foods we want to feed our families.
lisa says
I was out of yogurt the other day & went into QFC to get some. They did not have any organic whole milk plain yogurt (“everyone wants low fat” the guy told me- yeah, I know). All’s I could find was Mountain High plain whole milk yogurt, and I noticed the ingredient after whole milk is “nonfat milk”. I assumed it meant they added powdered milk to it. But I haven’t called to find out. :p
Ellen@BodyEarth says
I also have trouble finding sour cream and cottage cheese — even organic brands — without added “skim milk.” Our local dairy that makes delicious organic yogurt adds milk powder for part of the year. I think the yogurt becomes thinner mid-summer as the cows’ milk changes.
Meagan says
I agree! I would love to find organic full-fat sour cream that’s 100% cream. Daisy is, but it’s not organic 🙁 Also, good options for cottage cheese and sour cream like Organic Valley still have additives and their cottage cheese cannot be called GLUTEN FREE! Amazing that they would put GLUTEN in cottage cheese. AUGH
RadiantLux says
So… according to what is stated in the regulations, a dairy company could sell completely reconstituted dry milk. Back when I was buying milk at the grocery store, there were times when the milk tasted very much like milk made with dry milk powder. That is fraudulent, IMHO. If I wanted reconstituted dry milk, I would just buy dry milk off the shelf and make it when I need it, thus saving space in the fridge!
FoodRenegade says
Ugh. The other day I went into a Chipotle, hoping to eat fast food out that was reasonably better than the average McDonald’s crap. They have a new kids menu, so I bought something off it to see how my boys liked it. When it came time to select my drinks, my choices were: Horizon Organic 1% Milk, Horizon Organic 1% Chocolate Milk, Apple juice, and soda. “Do I really have to pick one of these? I don’t want any of them!” I said. “Aww. Come on. Have a heart. Get the chocolate milk. Remember what it was like to be a kid,” the man replied. So, I got the chocolate milk (I’m apparently very suggestible sometimes).
Anyhow, I’m sure the folks at Chipotle thought they were offering some great, healthy options for kids. At least, as he gave me the milk, I got to say, “Well, I’m not really a fan of reduced-fat anything, particularly milk. Kids need their fat. They’re growing BRAINS after all! And brains are MOSTLY fat.” He smiled uncomfortably, and I walked away.
I didn’t even dare look at the label. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure I would have given it back to the man and just had my boys drink water. Who cares if the drinks are included in the price of the meal if they’re UHT pasteurized, homogenized, and full of dried milk solids to make them creamier (not to mention the added sugar and crap from the chocolate syrup)?
KitchenKop says
Kristen, I get those same looks at restaurants when we all just order water, even if the kids’ food comes with a free drink. One lady said, “We have fruit punch!” I said, “Thanks anyway, that’s no better than pop, it’s got high fructose corn syrup in it, too.”
One day whole milk will be an option again, I know it! And when that happens I’ll have to go hug the waitress. 🙂
Kelly
Stanley Fishman says
Kristen, I do not drink anything at restaurants anymore, the choice is so bad. This has a surprise benefit, the bill is a lot smaller, as restaurants really overcharge on drinks!
FoodRenegade says
Well, I’m normally like you, too. I always drink water (no ice, I hate iced beverages) and get my boys water (with lids!). But in this case, I was surprised to discover that drinks were included in the price of the meal, and then I felt pressured by the staff to “have a heart.” I don’t think I’ll do that again, even if I *do* order off Chipotle’s kids menu again.
Stanley Fishman says
Those staff are good at that kind of pressure, are they not? The way I resist it is to think of what is actually in those horrid “drinks”.
Psychic Lunch says
Kristen, is there any reason you point out the lids? I try to go out of my way to tell the servers “no lids (or straws)” just to avoid the extra plastic. Sorry if this is off-topic; just curious if I’m missing something important!
-Dan
FoodRenegade says
Dan — It’s because they are very young and still prone to spill anything on the table that doesn’t come with a lid.
Anna says
This is a good example of how the disconnect between most people’s perception that conventional fluid milk products are minimally processed real foods, when in fact, much of the milk people consume (esp low fat and non-fat) is highly processed or contains highly processed ingredients from milk which regulations do not require to be disclosed. I don’t consider conventional milk to be Real Food anymore; it’s too adulterated.
Every drive by a dairy processing plant? They look like oil refineries, except for the lack of flames atop the stacks.
Amy Floyd says
I’m so glad to know that my fresh, from the farm, raw milk has *nothing* added to it!
Jessie says
Interesting stuff! We have a local chain of dairy stores here called Braum’s. They’re in OK, KS, and MO. Their website claims that the addition of powdered milk to skim milk is common — but they only share this information because they do something different. 🙂 Here’s the link:
https://braums.com/TourBraums2New.asp
NancyO says
When I think about the skim milk of my childhood pre-1980, I think of an opaque, watery solution that was scoffed at as suitable for anyone. Fast forward to the mid-80’s and it was marketed as a “better-for-you non-fat” variety and had a more milk-like appearance. Yuck! Sad, but I don’t have trouble believing this at all….
Ellen@BodyEarth says
Thanks for posting the results of all this difficult digging, Kelly! I added an update to my post about skim milk powder that links back to your post!
KitchenKop says
Ellen, that’s a great post, thanks for sharing the link here. 🙂
Heather T says
Thanks for looking into this Kelly,
This info is very important when discussing milk. 🙂
Appreciatively,
Heather
Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Doggone, calling me out now? 😉 You know I’m all about the truth, too. Thanks for looking into more of the story for me; this is definitely more recent news than decades ago.
It sounds a little harsh to see the quote “just plain wrong” all by itself like that. I was referring to the point that ALL skim milks have powdered milk added, though, not just that they “could” have it added. I agree that my source man at Meijer probably didn’t know his stuff, but I spoke with two high-ups at Bareman’s, and they assured me “nothing” is added. ?? I know, you can’t believe everyone, but I can’t distrust everyone either, and at least Bareman’s is kind of local (Holland, MI).
Just today a reader over at KS commented with this on the milk post:
“A few minutes before reading this post, I happened upon a USDA report from August 2003, which described the routine addition of nonfat dry milk and condensed skim milk to nonfat, low-fat, and reduced fat milk products. According to the report, these things can be added to milk, without any mention being made on the product labeling. I do not doubt the honesty of your Meyer or the local dairy you mentioned, but this recent (7 years ago, not from the 50
KitchenKop says
I’m with you, Katie, hoping some readers will take up the hunt for more info!