[<Normal page] [PEREZGONZALEZ Jose D (2008). Nutritional balance of standard milk. Journal of Knowledge Advancement & Integration (ISSN 1177-4576), 2011, pages 65-68.]
Nutritional balance of standard milk
This article offers descriptive data regarding the nutritional balance of standard milk. These data were collected for a research on milk and milk alternatives in New Zealand between 2007 and 2008 (Perezgonzalez, 20081).
Standard (whole or full cream) milk is defined as that containing around 3.5% fat. This article, however, analyzes the nutritional balance of standard milk beyond its fat content. Indeed, the average standard milk (in this sample) is high in fat and saturated fat, but also adequate in protein, low in carbohydrate but high in sugar4, low in fiber, and within maximum recommended limits for sodium.
On average, standard milk has a nutritional balance of BNI 86.80s, being particularly unbalanced towards excess of sugar.
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International standards
Standard milk appears as highly unbalanced according to international Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs), although less so according to U.S. and Canada's standards, which allow for a higher content of sugars and fat.
Illustration 3: Nutritional balance across different RDIs (standard milk) | |||||||
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Standard milk | average | 86.80 | 106.05 | 56.80 | 86.80 | 82.80 | |
Product 100ml | Company | BNI | WHO | US/CAN | AUS/NZ | UK | |
Pams whole milk powder | Pams | 82.91 | 95.42 | 52.91 | 82.91 | 78.91 | |
Meadow Fresh Junior | Goodman Fielder | 86.07 | 97.83 | 56.07 | 86.07 | 82.07 | |
Meadow Fresh Calci Kids | Goodman Fielder | 86.64 | 106.64 | 42.69 | 86.64 | 68.69 | |
Meadow Fresh Family | Goodman Fielder | 86.85 | 97.58 | 56.85 | 86.85 | 82.85 | |
Meadow Fresh Calci Strong original | Meadow Fresh | 90.66 | 110.66 | 41.64 | 90.66 | 67.64 | |
Budget milk standard | Safeway Traders | 92.09 | 104.33 | 62.09 | 92.09 | 88.09 | |
Farmgate Dairy homogenised | United Milk | 92.09 | 104.33 | 62.09 | 92.09 | 88.09 | |
Anchor Mega | Fonterra | 93.36 | 113.36 | 48.61 | 93.36 | 74.61 | |
Home Brand standard milk | Progressive | 94.04 | 106.83 | 64.04 | 94.04 | 90.04 | |
Anchor Blue top | Fonterra | 95.72 | 106.44 | 65.72 | 95.72 | 91.72 | |
(Source: Perezgonzalez, 20081) |
Illustration 4: Correlations between RDIs | ||||
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BNI | WHO | US/CAN | AUS/NZ | |
WHO | .728 | |||
(sig.) | .017 | |||
US/CAN | .441 | -.278 | ||
(sig.) | .203 | .436 | ||
AUS/NZ | 1.000 | .728 | .441 | |
(sig.) | .000 | .017 | .203 | |
UK | .441 | -.278 | 1.000 | .441 |
(sig.) | .203 | .436 | .000 | .203 |
Correlations between indexes vary. Correlations with the BNI™ and AUS/NZ indexes are positive but not necessarily high. Yet, there also appear negative correlations between WHO and US/CAN indexes, and between WHO and UK indexes, suggesting that the nutritional balance of standard milk would be interpreted differently depending on whether the focus is on the prevention of malnutrition and disease internationally (WHO) or on normal dietary requirements for national populations (US/CAN, UK).
Methods
Research approach
- The original research was an exploratory study on the nutritional balance of milk and milk alternatives in New Zealand in 2007-2008.
Sample
- The initial research sample included 44 milk and alternative milk products (ie, milk, soymilk and rice milk)1. The food products were collected in a convenient manner, looking more for a variety of brands than a random sampling of the same.
- The results in this study simply describe the 'subsample' of standard milk products within the original sample: ie, 10 brands of standard milk3.
Materials & analysis
- Milk products were purchased from local supermarket chains in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- Nutrition information for each milk product was retrieved from the nutritional information panel on each item, to be assessed using the Balanced Nutrition Index™ (BNI™) technology (see Perezgonzalez, 20112).
- SPSS-v16 was used for variable computations, including BNI and international indexes, and statistical analysis, which included descriptives and correlations.
Generalization potential
Some of the products may be traded with Australia and internationally, especially UHT milk and milk solids. Thus, the results of this study may be generalizable to the following populations (in order of decreasing generalization power):
- Australia and other international exporting destinations trading New Zealand milk.
- Internationally, if one assumes milk to be of approximately similar nutritional composition anywhere.
Want to know more?
- BNI™ database
- The database offers individual nutrition analyses for foods, including the milk and alternative milk products referred to in above article.
- BNI™ journal (2011, issue 3) - Milk and milk alternatives in New Zealand in 2007-2008
- This issue of the Balanced Nutrition Index™ journal collates all BNI™ nutrition information for the original sample in a single book.
- Wiki of Science - Balance Nutrition Index™ (BNI™)
- This Wiki of Science page offers more information about the BNI™ technology.
- Wiki of Science - Nutritional balance of milk and milk alternatives
- These Wiki of Science pages offer more information for other milk categories: semi-skimmed milk, skimmed milk, standard soymilk, low-fat soymilk, flavored low-fat soymilk, and rice milk.
Author
Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2011). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalez).
Other interesting sites |
Journal KAI |
Wiki of Science |
AviationKnowledge |
A4art |
The Balanced Nutrition Index |