semi-skimmed milk

[bauldbairn]

Begs the question though, why isn't skimmed milk cheaper?

Probably because of the extra processing cost of making the milk healthier - skimming. Maybe the cream by-product offsets the cost?

 

[Riverman]

Probably because of the extra processing cost of making the milk healthier - skimming. Maybe the cream by-product offsets the cost?

I doubt it. They've got to skim cream off milk anyway.

Wow I didn't realise this was possible.

To reduce the fat content of milk, e.g. for skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, all of the fat is removed and then the required quantity returned.[citation needed] The fat content of the milk produced by cows can also be altered, by selective breeding and genetic modification. For example, scientists in New Zealand have bred cows that produce skimmed milk (less than 1% fat content).[3]

Fancy that.

 

[bauldbairn]

I doubt it. They've got to skim cream off milk anyway.

Doesn't that leave full fat milk - in the first stage. Gravitational body temperature separation. Least processed. Cheapest option.
With the by-product made into Cheese / Cream / Butter etc,etc.

Then process more to leave semi-skimmed milk. Heating / Time / Centrifugal separation = more cost.

Then process again for skimmed milk. Heating / time / centrifugal separation = more cost.

 

[Riverman]

Here this may help.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Milkproducts.svg

Notice that the main way that companies seem to get cream is through skimming.

Makes me wonder whether the skimmed milk may have very low value and is sold at a huge premium, either that or its just subsidising the cost of full or semi skimmed milk. Will need an expert who works in the industry to clarify this but it does look abit like that.

 

[ASC1951]

Probably because of the extra processing cost of making the milk healthier - skimming. Maybe the cream by-product offsets the cost?

No, no. Supermarket pricing is based on hard economic theory and is very, very precise. Semi skimmed milk is more expensive because it is bought by a different demographic who are willing to pay slightly more for what they perceive to be a healthier product.

The same trick is used to sell Fairtrade products. More money does go to the producer, but usually only 1/4 of the extra.

And here is another example of supermarket precision. Why are their Basics or Value ranges in garish yellow and black packaging? It's not to make them easier to find for people who have to buy at that price, because they will seek them out anyway - it's to discourage the shoppers with more money from trading down to less profitable items.

 

[Wolf04]

I love full fat milk, skimmed milk has no taste, and is basically white water.

I've just switched from skimmed milk to Oat milk, it is very much white water, then I read the instruction that you have to shake the carton before use. It's alright in porridge which is all I use milk for. The blackest of black coffee for me please.

 

[Over The Hill]

And here is another example of supermarket precision. Why are their Basics or Value ranges in garish yellow and black packaging? It's not to make them easier to find for people who have to buy at that price, because they will seek them out anyway - it's to discourage the shoppers with more money from trading down to less profitable items.

They are very good at what they do. Rather than sell you good beans cheaper they sell cheap beans cheap! Brilliant.

VW do a similar thing with cars. Rather than cheapening VW cars they sell Skodas. Their "Value" brand.

 

[Piemaster]

Here this may help.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Milkproducts.svg

Notice that the main way that companies seem to get cream is through skimming.

Makes me wonder whether the skimmed milk may have very low value and is sold at a huge premium, either that or its just subsidising the cost of full or semi skimmed milk. Will need an expert who works in the industry to clarify this but it does look abit like that.

Now that is a flow chart. Seems that the industry is very good at taking raw milk and selling it to you in all sorts of guises. Do their very hardest to sell you a healthier alternative (skimmed/semi-skimmed milk) then sell you the bit you didn't want as something else anyway, which is what I suspected when I asked the original question.
I have a grudging admiration at how the food industry is exceptionally good at extracting money from the consumer for selling them poor quality food.

 

[longers]

I was just thinking yesterday about a "what milk" thread. Skimmed for brews and full fat goats milk for drinking would get my vote.

Cow juice disagrees with my eczema, I still like it in tea but try and avoid it for everything else but I wonder if "cooked" milk in rice puddings etc should still be avoided?

 

[ASC1951]

They are very good at what they do. Rather than sell you good beans cheaper they sell cheap beans cheap! Brilliant.

Nothing happens by accident in a supermarket.

Actually the Value ploy doesn't work with me. I get those sorts of things from Lidl, where they are just as cheap and the quality is much much better; but then they have a slightly different business model - cheaper locations, very basic premises and a restricted range. I was even mildly surprised by their wine selection, which within the 75 or so varieties that they stock is better quality than Tesco, Sainsburys or even Morries. [Not to be confused with my local Netto, which is indeed cheap rubbish sold cheaply and where the Giant Cornflakes is empty for security and they have to get the contents from the storeroom.]

 

[Arch]

Full fat milk in tea is truly foul. I'd have skimmed for preference, but there would be a mutiny, so semi-skimmed is the compromise.

Look for 1% milk, I get it in Sainsburys, less fat than semi (which is about 3% I think), but I can't distinguish it from semi in tea and so on.... (although if you prefer skimmed, rather than are just avoiding fat, this may not help you I guess...)

 

[marinyork]

Can't say I'm particularly fond of full fat in tea. I know someone whose beliefs are along the non-homogenised thing doing the rounds at the moment and it's drinkable but not terribly fond of it.

 

[Bman]

Full fat all the way in this house. Isnt Skimmed milk just diluted full fat milk!?

Full fat milk is less than 4% fat anyway. Perfect with coffee/cereal or on its own.

 

[wafflycat]

Full fat all the way in this house. Isnt Skimmed milk just diluted full fat milk!?

Full fat milk is less than 4% fat anyway. Perfect with coffee/cereal or on its own.

No. Skimmed milk has had the fat removed. It is not 'diluted'

 

[Maz]

Full fat milk is less than 4% fat.

No whey!