The answer to this much debated question depends on who’s asking! Reduced fat milk has been consistently popular with health conscious consumers until new-age thinking recently posed questions about natural goodness lost in processing and pondered the health prospects of returning to food consumption “as nature intended”.

Full cream milk may be a better choice for some, but is certainly no closer to the Earth than  reduced fat varieties!

Unless you’re drinking it fresh from the cow, all milk is processed in the same way via  pasteurization, which kills bacteria, and homogenization, which breaks down the fat and distributes it evenly throughout the liquid (otherwise the fat layer would remain on the surface).

The main difference comes in with a third process called skimming, which is also performed on full cream milk to standardize the amount of fat per volume, according to nutritional and labeling standards.

Theoretically, extensive skimming may result in reduced concentrations of fat soluble vitamins, but these can be obtained from many other dietary sources. Conversely, the calcium content of lower fat milk is actually higher than that of full cream milk (because there is less concentration of fat per volume to displace calcium).

Full cream dairy products are very important for babies and toddlers, who need extra dietary fat for optimum brain and eye development. It is also useful for adults who require extra energy in the diet and is absolutely acceptable for healthy individuals who simply enjoy it! However, for those adults who are overweight or suffer from cardiovascular health problems, low fat or fat-free milk is most definitely advisable!

The nutritional differences between low-fat and fat- free milk is not extreme when comparing small volumes, so for those who prefer the relatively creamier taste of low-fat milk, this is a perfectly healthy choice! However, in the case of weight watchers who drink numerous cups of milky tea or coffee, use it in cereal and elsewhere in the diet, then fat-free is a better bet!  

Consumer controversies will always continue to crop up, however whilst the range of Honeydew customers remains diverse,  there will always be scope in the milk market for variety! So take your pick and enjoy!

Honeydew’s Health Advisor is a Registered Dietician,
Wife, Mother and Active Individual, whose Aim is to Promote
Healthy Eating and provide up-to-date Information for All of our Valued Consumers.
At Honeydew, your Health is our Concern!