Milk powder is simply whole milk that has had the water removed through a dehydration process.

Description of raw materials used in production. 

• The primary raw material is whole milk, which is obtained from cows. Pasteurization may be required before the drying process to ensure the product is free from harmful bacteria.

Step-by-step summary of industrial process.

• Collection and pasteurization of milk. Milk is collected from cows and then pasteurized to kill off any pathogenic microorganisms.
• Standardization. The milk may be standardized to ensure consistent fat content.
• Preconcentration. The milk is concentrated by evaporation to remove some of the water.
• Drying. The concentrated milk is then dried, typically through spray or drum drying, to further remove water and produce milk powder.

Form and color. Dry whole milk typically appears as a white or slightly yellowish powder and is homogeneous and free-flowing.

Commercial applications. 

Dry whole milk is widely used across various sectors of the food industry, such as baking, confectionery, and chocolate-making, as well as in ready-to-use food products like cake mixes, creams, and beverages.

It is used in the food field for some features:

• Makes the dough better
• Softens baked goods
• Long storage
• Reduced space

Cow's milk is used in many applications:

• uman nutrition
• animal nutrition
• food industry
• cosmetics
• medicine

With regard to  human nutrition, cow's milk is treated industrially with the pasteurization process to destroy pathogenic bacteria that can cause risks to human health.

We find it on the market as:

• Fresh whole milk 67 kcal/100g

pasteurized within 48 hours of milking

• Fresh pasteurized whole milk 67 kcal/100g

pasteurized several times after 48 hours of milking

• Skim milk 38 kcal/100g

degreased

• Partially skimmed milk 48 kcal/100g

Partially degreased

• ESL milk

microfiltered

• UHT milk

homogenized and preheated to 135 degrees

The industry uses cow’s milk mainly in these forms:

• Milk powder

dehydrated

• Whole milk powder

dehydrated

• Skim milk powder

dehydrated

• Dehydrated skim milk

dehydrated

• Rehydrated skim milk

dehydrated and subsequently rehydrated

The most natural form of cow's milk is raw milk, directly harvested after milking, which must be immediately stored in the refrigerator and drunk only after boiling to eliminate microbiological risks.

The advantages (for those who are not allergic) of cow's milk are manifold as cow's milk is a source of carbohydrates, calcium, proteins and other interesting nutrients that can lead to an increase in the concentration of amino acids resulting in improved muscle function (1).

Consumption of 500 mL milk attenuated losses in muscle function following repeated sprinting and jumping and thus may be a valuable recovery intervention for female team-sport athletes following this type of exercise (2).

Milk consumption on bone and fracture incidence: studies on the effects of milk or whey extracts show positive effects on bone health or risk of hip fracture. Nevertheless a few contradictory epidemiological studies showed an increased risk of hip fractures in subjects drinking higher quantities of milk (3).

Rural life is considered a promising system against asthma and allergies. Although this associative mechanism has not been fully clarified, this study presents an up-to-date under standing of the protective effect of raw milk on allergies and asthma (4).

Cow's milk studies

Cow's milk allergy studies

References____________________________________________________

(1) The effect of milk on recovery from repeat-sprint cycling in female team-sport athletes.  Rankin P, Lawlor MJ, Hills FA, Bell PG, Stevenson EJ, Cockburn E.  Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018 Feb;43(2):113-122. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0275.

(2) Milk: An Effective Recovery Drink for Female Athletes.  Rankin P, Landy A, Stevenson E, Cockburn E.  Nutrients. 2018 Feb 17;10(2). pii: E228. doi: 10.3390/nu10020228.

(3) The effect of milk consumption on bone and fracture incidence, an update.  Fardellone P.  Aging Clin Exp Res. 2019 Jun;31(6):759-764. doi: 10.1007/s40520-019-01192-9.

(4) Raw Cow's Milk and Its Protective Effect on Allergies and Asthma.  Sozańska B.  Nutrients. 2019 Feb 22;11(2). pii: E469. doi: 10.3390/nu11020469. Review.

(5) World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) Guidelines  Alessandro Fiocchi, (Chair), Jan Brozek, Holger Schünemann, (Chair), Sami L. Bahna, Andrea von Berg, Kirsten Beyer, Martin Bozzola, Julia Bradsher, Enrico Compalati, Motohiro Ebisawa, Maria Antonieta Guzman, Haiqi Li, Ralf G. Heine, Paul Keith, Gideon Lack, Massimo Landi, Alberto Martelli, Fabienne Rancé, Hugh Sampson, Airton Stein, Luigi Terracciano, and Stefan Vieths  World Allergy Organ J. 2010 Apr; 3(4): 57–161.  10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181defeb9