Have you noticed milk cartons on the supermarket shelf sporting the message ‘permeate-free’? Or perhaps you’ve seen the permeate debate raging on nightly news programs and are wondering what all the fuss is about? Let’s look a little closer at permeate, why it’s been removed from milk and whether we should be concerned.
Permeate in a Nutshell
Here are the facts: permeate is the name given to the vitamins, minerals and lactose found in milk. When milk is made, processors remove permeate (and later put it back in) to ensure all their milk tastes the same and has the same protein and fat levels. This is done because milk varies from cow to cow and doesn’t all taste the same before it’s processed.
The Permeate Debate
This process of standardising milk isn’t a new one, as it’s been occurring since the 1980s. However, in April 2012 a news story ‘blew the whistle’ on permeate, which it called a ‘watery, greenish waste product’, after allegedly discovering that America’s biggest milk producer was adding permeate to milk to water down its milk products and save money.
An alarmed public demanded answers, which lead to Aussie milk producers labeling their milk as permeate-free.
RMIT dairy scientist Frank Sherkat, however, has told commentators that the permeate debate is an unnecessary one to have here in Australia. He says there isn’t, and never has been, anything wrong with Australian milk.
Sherkat also says saying milk is permeate-free is “like saying orange juice is water-free”, since permeate is a necessary and natural component of milk.
On the other side of the debate, some manufacturers have declared that permeate-free milk is more natural and unprocessed, making it a higher quality and better tasting product. However, such comments have been criticised as being part of a 'gimmicky' marketing campaign led by manufacturers in a competitive milk industry.
Is There a Difference?
Consumer watchdog group Choice recently undertook an analysis of several milk products, to compare permeate and permeate-free varieties. It found there was no difference in taste, fat or protein content.
Milk products are closely regulated by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand. So rather than worry, why not grab a glass of both milk varieties and see if you can taste a difference. In the end, it’s a personal choice which milk you drink, just as it is whether you drink milk at all.
