Tag: Milk preservatives

In a 2021 study in Sudan, researchers found formaldehyde in 19.2% of raw milk samples, highlighting the illegal use of this chemical to preserve milk and extend its shelf life. The addition of this highly toxic substance is a serious food safety concern for consumers worldwide.

Did you know that despite popular belief, most plain, commercially produced dairy milk found in supermarkets today contains no chemical preservatives at all? This surprising fact explains why understanding the processing methods, not just asking which preservative is used in dairy milk, is crucial for consumers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), between 1998 and 2011, 79% of dairy-related disease outbreaks in the United States were linked to raw milk or cheese products. This statistic highlights the critical importance of food preservation methods, which often leads to the question, "what are the preservatives in milk?" While fresh, refrigerated milk relies on heat processing and chilling, certain additives are used in specific dairy products to enhance safety and shelf life.

In many regulated countries, fresh, plain milk on supermarket shelves has no added preservatives. The question of whether preservatives are used in milk often arises due to its extended shelf-life, but this is achieved through heat treatment, not chemical additives.

While cranberries and other berries are well-known natural sources of benzoic acid, research confirms that low levels of benzoates also occur naturally in milk. The presence of this compound is generally harmless, though its concentration can increase significantly in fermented dairy products due to microbial activity.

According to the US Dairy industry, nearly all pasteurized cow's milk and many milk alternatives sold in the United States have added vitamins, with Vitamin D being one of the most common. These additions address public health needs and improve the product's nutritional value. But what additives are added to milk beyond standard vitamins, and why?