Latest news with #milk
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
The reason Costco milk doesn't spoil after its expiration date
Costco 's Kirkland-brand milk is reportedly lasting significantly longer than its printed expiration date, a phenomenon noted by customers. This extended shelf life is attributed to Costco's exceptionally rigorous testing and quality control standards, which exceed typical FDA requirements. Suppliers face strict annual unannounced audits, and every milk batch undergoes approximately 60 microbial tests, with any failure preventing shipment. The quality of water used in processing is closely monitored, and milk from healthier herds with lower somatic cell counts is preferred for its longer fridge lifespan. These stringent measures contribute to reduced food waste and increased customer satisfaction due to the milk's prolonged freshness.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Fake Or Fortune? on BBC1: Was this £140 market find really a priceless painting by Churchill?
The question divided an empire. When pouring a cuppa, should you put the milk in first, or add it to the tea afterwards? George Orwell, writing in 1946 when tea was strictly rationed to two ounces a week (about enough for 30 teabags), was adamant. 'Pour tea into the cup first . . . One is liable to put in too much milk if one does it the other way round.' But Evelyn Waugh, in a letter nine years later to Nancy Mitford, took the opposite line: 'All nannies and many governesses, when pouring out tea, put the milk in first. (It is said by tea-fanciers to produce a richer mixture.)' Clearly, it's an issue of class. Orwell was the son of a petty official in the Indian civil service, and solidly lower-middle class. Waugh, an inveterate snob and social climber, yearned to be as upper-class as the Mitfords actually were. And what do you suppose Fiona Bruce is - a milk-in-first toff or an add-to-taste commoner? The answer was revealed as she wielded a teapot in the tea-rooms of Blenheim Palace on Fake Or Fortune?, at the beginning of an examination of an unsigned oil painting allegedly by Winston Churchill. Best excuse of the night: Tackling her driving test as the hilarious Mandy (BBC2) returned, Diane Morgan's devious, feckless character begged for leniency from the examiner. 'I'm perimenopausal and I've got ADHD,' she pleaded. That's a free pass for everything. Casually, she poured the tea into a porcelain cup with the milk already in it. Now we know. Sadly, we never did find out for sure about the Churchill. All the signs were that this picture, painted in the gardens of Herstmonceux castle in Sussex, was the real deal - one of Winston's earliest, from 1916, with his wife, Clementine, perched on a wall above a cascade of pink roses. But despite a wealth of corroborating evidence, no expert was willing to risk authenticating it without paperwork. And as the owner, an amateur enthusiast named Barry, had picked it up at an open-air market for £140, it lacked what Fake Or Fortune? fans have learned to call 'provenance'. This was glum news for Barry. A kosher Winston could fetch half a million quid. A questionable one is worth perhaps a fifth of that. Still, a tidy little profit on a punt at an art fayre. As always, the real interest in this show lay in the clues picked out by discerning eyes. Art dealer Philip Mould pointed out how dabs of blue were smeared onto the green mass of a tree in the background, giving the impression of sky shimmering through the leaves - a trick typical of the British Bulldog himself. A note on the back of the canvas also attributed it to Churchill. Handwriting expert Emma Bache compared this inscription to various letters and matched it to the pen of Colonel Claude Lowther, an MP who owned Herstmonceux a century ago. Conclusive, surely. With mealy-mouthed BBC prissiness, Philip pointed out that, 'in recent years, Winston Churchill has become a more divisive figure'. Why's that? Did he pour his tea in before the milk?
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
A Looming Dairy Drought Will Stunt the World's Growth
It's every baby's first food, and we can't get enough of it. The world produces close to a billion metric tons of milk each year — more than all the wheat or rice we grow. That lead is set to widen over the coming decade, with dairy consumption expected to grow faster than any other agricultural commodity. On a rapidly warming planet, this poses a host of problems. Consider demand. There's more than half a billion people under the age of four in developing countries, and about a third of them suffer from stunting — short stature that's associated with health, educational and economic problems in later life. Most could benefit from the policy first proposed by Scottish nutritionist John Boyd Orr in the 1920s: provision of dairy products to give them a more nutritionally rich diet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Milk Might Actually Be More Hydrating Than Water—Here's What the Science Says
Key Points Hydration depends on more than just water—some nutrient-rich drinks, like milk, can also help. Milk offers water, electrolytes, and carbs that support fluid balance and post-workout recovery. While milk can hydrate, water should still be your main beverage for daily hydration you've ever felt extra-thirsty, even after chugging a tall glass of water, you're probably aware that water isn't the only hydrating beverage. Next time water just doesn't cut it, and you're feeling parched—like after a sweaty workout—try reaching for a cup of milk. Yes, we're talking real dairy milk. Why Milk Can Help with Hydration Dairy milk has the perfect hydrating trifecta of electrolytes, water and carbohydrates. This thirst-quenching combination makes milk a beverage that can help with hydration. And some bodies of research back this up. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tested 13 different beverages and found that whole milk, skim milk and orange juice provided better hydration than water. Similarly, a 2020 study in Nutrients found that a milk-based hydration drink helped the body stay hydrated longer than water or a sports drink by reducing urine loss and increasing fluid retention. It also led to a smaller spike in blood sugar, making it a more stable energy source compared to traditional sports drinks. However, these studies have some limitations, such as small sample sizes and limited diversity, so further research is needed to confirm these findings. It Has Electrolytes Electrolytes are minerals, including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. They help maintain our body's overall balance, from regulating chemical reactions and helping our muscles contract to maintaining blood pressure and the right balance of fluid, says Katie Brown, Ed.D., RDN, executive vice president of the National Dairy Council. Regardless of its fat content, milk has you covered for all of these electrolytes. According to the USDA, one 8-ounce serving (1 cup) of reduced-fat (2%) milk contains: Calories: 122 Total Carbohydrates: 12 g Dietary Fiber: 0 g Total Sugar: 12 g Added Sugar: 0 g Protein: 8 g Total Fat: 5 g Saturated Fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 20 mg Sodium: 96 mg (4% Daily Value) Calcium: 309 mg (24% DV) Potassium: 390 mg (8% DV) Magnesium: 29 mg (12% DV) Phosphorus: 252 mg (20% DV) "While electrolytes don't hydrate you per se, they help regulate your fluid balance and how well you hold on to or lose fluids," says Matt Pikosky, Ph.D., RD, vice president of nutrition marketing and affairs at the National Dairy Council. "Without the proper balance of sodium, potassium and other electrolytes in your body, you can't retain the water you're drinking as effectively because sodium promotes fluid retention, which supports hydration and rehydration," he says. It's 90% Water Dairy milk, like many other foods, such as fruits and veggies, is naturally high in water content, which can help contribute to your hydration needs. "Milk naturally contains about 90% water, which can help hydrate us in a similar way that water hydrates," Pikosky says. Like all beverages, milk is primarily made of water, which is absorbed in your intestines and promotes hydration, says Melanie Betz, M.S., RD, CSR, FAND, founder and CEO of The Kidney Dietitian in Chicago. But what makes milk a good option for hydration is the naturally present electrolytes. "Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, making it a double dose of hydration," Pikosky says. It Contains Natural Sugar Sugar is a type of carbohydrate, and dairy milk contains a natural sugar called lactose. "Any type of carbohydrate (like lactose) can help hydration because the process of absorbing carbohydrates in your intestines requires electrolytes," Betz says. "The presence of carbohydrates helps with fluid absorption from the small intestine into the bloodstream," says Pikosky. So carbs help those electrolytes get absorbed into your body, where they can help fluid go where it should. What's more, "The carbs in milk also help to slow the digestion process, which can lead to a slower release and absorption of the water naturally present in dairy milk," Brown says. And that all translates to better hydration levels. Are Plant-Based Milks as Hydrating as Dairy Milk? OK, so is stocking your fridge with oat or almond milk doing your body any favors? It's hard to say, for two reasons. First, there isn't much research on the role of plant-based milks role in supporting hydration; second, there are so many different types of vegan dairy milks available on the market, with widely varying nutritional profiles, that it's difficult to generalize. Still, the majority of plant-based milk alternatives don't offer the same nutritional profile as dairy milk, says Pikosky. What's unique about dairy milk is that it contains a natural balance of water, electrolytes and macronutrients (carbs, protein and fat). And "plant-based milks generally have less potassium and sugar than cow's milk—so, they may technically be less hydrating," Betz says. If you're avoiding dairy or looking for a vegan alternative, the plant-based option that would come closest to dairy milk, as pointed out by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, would be fortified soy beverages, Pikosky says. If you're shopping for a nondairy alternative, always check the Nutrition Facts label for those electrolytes to get a better clue into your plant-based milk's hydration benefits. Should You Drink Milk Instead of Water? It's clear that milk can help hydrate you, but that shouldn't give you the green light to give up on plain water. "Milk is a very healthy addition to a well-balanced diet. But, from a hydration standpoint, it shouldn't be your only beverage," Betz says. The Institute of Medicine suggests that young men (ages 19 to 30) drink around 3.7 liters (125 ounces) and women 2.7 liters (91 ounces) daily. Betz points out that if all of this fluid was 2% milk, this would add 1,342 to 1,952 calories per day—which could be someone's entire day's worth of calories. But there are certain scenarios where milk can help hydrate you better than water—like after a seriously sweaty and intensive workout. "As a dietitian with a background in exercise physiology, I do recommend people refuel, rehydrate and rebuild after moderate to intense exercise with milk or chocolate milk," Pikosky says. That makes milk a solid sports drink alternative that's more natural, budget-friendly and tastes great, too. Our Expert Take Some studies show that dairy milk may be as hydrating as water—and that's because milk contains a nice natural balance of electrolytes, water and carbs. However, "It is important to remember that for most people, water really is the best option for hydration," Betz says. When you're thirsty, always reach for water first. But if you're feeling extra parched, especially after a sweat-inducing workout, that's a good time to reach for a glass of milk. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
France 24
6 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Dairy giant New Zealand endures butter price shock
The dairy price shock spreads as far as cheese and milk, leading one economist to suggest locals face the grim prospect of cereal without milk if they want to save money. Butter prices leapt 46.5 percent in the year to June to an average of NZ$8.60 (US$5.09) for a 500-gram (1.1-pound) block, according to official data from Stats New Zealand. Milk prices surged 14.3 percent over the same period, while cheese shot up 30 percent. High dairy prices have hit the headlines in New Zealand, with media outlet Stuff reporting that "exorbitant" prices are unlikely to "melt away" any time soon. Wholesale and retail store Costco restricted butter sales to a maximum of 30 blocks per customer in June, but still sold out, according to the New Zealand Herald. The prices are hurting consumers, said independent economist Brad Olsen, chief executive of Infometrics. "At the moment, I'm going with any other alternative I can find," Olsen said of butter prices. "I'd also say, the cheap option for breakfast at the moment seems to be to try cereal without the milk." The phenomenon was driven by international prices and demand, Olsen said. Creaming off profits Butter supplies had failed to keep up with rising demand over the past two years, he said. "New Zealand exports the vast majority of our dairy products. So if you're a company that's exporting butter, you've got to make a decision. Do you sell it at the international price overseas, or do you sell it cheaper in New Zealand?" the economist said. "No business is going to sell it cheaper... if they can get a better price overseas." But while New Zealand consumers were feeling the price pinch, the overall economy was benefiting as exporters creamed off larger profits from sales overseas. "The sort of returns that our farmers and the primary sector more broadly are getting, and the economic benefit that brings, is actually far more substantial," Olsen said. "It's an extra NZ$4.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) that has been flowing into the economy from the higher dairy payout. That's a significant boost." New Zealand butter lovers are actually faring better than some, he said, adding they still pay 46 percent less than Americans.
