Milk-and-Dairy-Products-in-Human-Nutrition-FAO

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Chapter 3
Milk and dairy product
composition
Ramani Wijesinha-Bettoni 1 and Barbara Burlingame 2
1 Nutrition Consultant, Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy; 2 Deputy Director, Nutrition Division,
FAO, Rome, Italy
Abstract
The first section of this chapter provides detailed information on the composition of
animal milks used for human consumption, including milk from both major dairy
species (cow, buffalo, goat and sheep) and minor species (yak, mithun, musk ox,
mare, donkey, dromedary and Bactrian camels, llama, alpaca, reindeer and moose).
Macro- and micronutrient contents of milks are given for the various species, mineral
and vitamin contents in the milks are compared with the recommended nutrient
intakes for children between one and three years old and those suitable for children
who are allergic to cow milk are noted. Nutritional claims that would be permitted
according to the CODEX Guide to Food Labelling are considered for the various
milks. Interspecies differences in protein, fat and lactose contents are highlighted.
The contribution of milk to dietary energy, protein and fat in various regions of the
world is considered. The effects of feeding and lactation state on milk composition
are considered.
The second part of the chapter presents less-detailed information on the composition
of treated liquid milks and dairy products, including fermented milk products,
cheese, butter and ghee, cream and whey products. The current definitions
according to the FAO Classifications of Commodities/CODEX are given, together
with the impact of processing on nutrient profiles. Finally, milk products from milk
from underutilized species are presented.
3.1 Introduction
Domestication of animals for livestock has played a key role in the development
of human civilizations. The cow 10 has now become the main dairy animal associated
with milk, with the term “milk” being almost synonymous with cow milk in
most people’s minds. However, milk from a range of other animal species is also
consumed and will therefore be covered in this chapter.
10 Here “cow” refers to the female of Bos taurus and Bos indicus species.