Tag: Dairy history

Archaeological analysis of ancient pottery has revealed traces of milk fats dating back nearly 9,000 years in modern-day Turkey. This discovery confirms that, yes, our ancestors consumed dairy, but the story of how and why is more complex than simply drinking raw milk, as most early adults were lactose intolerant.

Archaeological evidence from ancient pottery suggests that humans began consuming milk from domesticated animals as far back as the Neolithic period, approximately 9,000 years ago. This practice emerged as part of the agricultural revolution, fundamentally altering human diets and leading to a significant evolutionary adaptation: the ability for some adults to digest milk.

Approximately 65% of the global population is lactose intolerant, yet for many, drinking milk is a dietary staple. Understanding how humans started drinking milk is a fascinating tale of cultural adaptation, genetic evolution, and survival strategies that unfolded over thousands of years.

While humans have consumed milk products for approximately 9,000 years, the regular consumption of liquid cow's milk is a much more recent development. This practice began following the domestication of cattle, though for most of that history, adults were lactose intolerant and relied on fermented products.

While modern consumers view whey protein as a highly valued supplement, its history tells a different story. Historically, this protein-rich byproduct of cheesemaking was considered a marginal waste product, with dairy producers often disposing of it directly into waterways, leading to significant environmental problems.

In the early 1900s, before widespread pasteurization, milk was a leading cause of childhood illness, with infant mortality rates 30 to 60 times higher than today. This harrowing reality is the foundational reason why was milk originally pasteurized, a story rooted in both scientific innovation and public health necessity.

According to the CDC, from 1998 through 2018, there were 202 outbreaks linked to drinking raw milk, causing over 2,600 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations. This high risk of foodborne illness is the primary reason why humans stopped drinking raw milk and shifted towards safer, pasteurized alternatives.

Approximately 10,000 years ago, following the domestication of animals, humans began to drink milk from sources other than their mothers. This shift from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled agricultural one fundamentally altered the human diet and evolution, answering the question of when did humans begin to drink milk.

First developed in the 1960s, ultra-pasteurization, or UHT processing, is a food technology that transformed the dairy industry by extending milk's shelf life significantly. This process became commercially widespread in the 1970s, paving the way for shelf-stable milk that did not require refrigeration until opened.

Evidence suggests that dairy production and consumption in China date back between five and seven thousand years, challenging the modern perception that milk is a foreign import. The answer to **when did China start using milk?** reveals a complex history, with dairy popularity waxing and waning based on geography, culture, and economics.