Dairy product

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Milk products and production relationships

Dairy products or milk products, also known as Template:Linktext are food products made from (or containing) milk.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The most common dairy animals are cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe. Dairy products include common grocery store food around the world such as yogurt, cheese, milk and butter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A facility that produces dairy products is a dairy.Template:Efn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dairy products are consumed worldwide to varying degrees.<ref name="fao" /> Some people avoid some or all dairy products because of lactose intolerance, veganism, environmental concerns, other health reasons or beliefs.

Types of dairy product

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Milk

File:Milk glass.jpg

All dairy products derive from milk

File:Tin of condensed milk.jpg

Condensed milk

Milk is produced after optional homogenization or pasteurization, in several grades after standardization of the fat level, and possible addition of the bacteria Streptococcus lactis and Leuconostoc citrovorum. Milk can be broken down into several different categories based on type of product produced, including cream, butter, cheese, infant formula, and yogurt.

Milk varies in fat content. Skim milk is milk with zero fat, while whole milk products contain fat.

Milk is an ingredient in many confectioneries. Milk can be added to chocolate to produce milk chocolate. Template:Div-col

Cream

File:Strawberry Milkshake Whipped Cream.jpg

Whipped cream

Butter

Butter, mostly milk fat, produced by churning cream

• Ghee, also called clarified butter is made by gentle heating of butter and removal of the solid matter
  • Smen, a fermented, clarified butter used in Moroccan cooking
  • Anhydrous milkfat (clarified butter)

Fermented

File:Kefir glass london feb 10.jpg

Kefir is a fermented probiotic dairy drink

Fermented milk products include:

Yogurt

Yogurt, milk fermented by thermophilic bacteria, mainly Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus sometimes with additional bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus Template:Div-col

Cheese

Cheese, produced by coagulating milk, separating curds from whey, and letting it ripen, generally with bacteria, and sometimes also with certain molds.

Custard

• Custard, thickened with eggs
• Imitation custard, thickened with starch

Frozen

File:Central Monterrey Ice Cream.jpg

Ice cream

• Ice cream, slowly frozen cream, milk, flavors and emulsifying additives (dairy ice cream)
• Gelato, slowly frozen milk and water, lesser fat than ice cream
• Ice milk, low-fat version of ice cream
• Frozen custard
• Frozen yogurt, yogurt with emulsifiers

Consumption patterns worldwide

Rates of dairy consumption vary widely worldwide. High-consumption countries consume more than Template:Convert per capita per year. These countries are: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Costa Rica, most European countries, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Canada, the United States and Pakistan. Medium-consumption countries consume Template:Convert to 150 kg per capita per year. These countries are: India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, North and Southern Africa, most of the Middle East, and most of Latin America and the Caribbean. Low-consumption countries consume under 30 kg per capita per year. These countries are: Senegal, most of Central Africa, and most of East and Southeast Asia.<ref name="fao">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Lactose levels

For those with some degree of lactose intolerance, considering the amount of lactose in dairy products can be important to health.

Dairy product	Amount of lactose
Milk	Highest
Butter	Minimal (made from milk fat)
Hard cheese	Very low
Soft cheese	More than hard cheese

Intolerance and health research

Dairy products may upset the digestive system in individuals with lactose intolerance or a milk allergy.<ref name="nih">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="gen">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> People who experience lactose intolerance usually avoid milk and other lactose-containing dairy products, which may cause mild side effects, such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, and nausea.<ref name=nih/><ref name=gen/> Such individuals may use non-dairy milk substitutes.

Cancer

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF), Cancer Council Australia (CCA) and Cancer Research UK have stated that there is strong evidence that consumption of dairy products decreases risk of colorectal cancer.<ref name="Clinton 2020">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Report">"Meat, fish and dairy products and the risk of cancer". wcrf.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.</ref><ref name="Australia">"Information sheet: Dairy foods and cancer". cancer.org.au. Retrieved 24 January 2023.</ref><ref>"Can milk and dairy products cause cancer?". cancerresearchuk.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.</ref> The AICR, WCRF, CCA and Prostate Cancer UK have stated that there is limited but suggestive evidence that dairy products increase risk of prostate cancer.<ref name="Clinton 2020"/><ref name="Report"/><ref name="Australia"/><ref>"Diet, nutrition, physical activity and prostate cancer". wcrf.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.</ref><ref>"Which foods might increase my risk of prostate cancer?". prostatecanceruk.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.</ref> The American Cancer Society (ACS) have stated that because dairy products "may lower the risk of some cancers and possibly increase the risk of others, the ACS does not make specific recommendations on dairy food consumption for cancer prevention."<ref>"American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity". cancer.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.</ref>

It has been suggested that consumption of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in dairy products could increase cancer risk, particularly prostate cancer.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="committee">"Statement on possible carcinogenic hazard to consumers from insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the diet. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2023.</ref> However, a 2018 review by the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) concluded that there is "insufficient evidence to draw any firm conclusions as to whether exposure to dietary IGF-1 is associated with an increased incidence of cancer in consumers".<ref name="committee"/> The COC also stated it is unlikely that there would be absorption of intact IGF-1 from food by most consumers.<ref>"Non-Technical Summary of Statement on possible carcinogenic hazard to consumers from insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the diet". assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2023.</ref>

A 2019 review concluded that higher-quality research was needed to characterise valid associations between dairy consumption and risk of and/or cancer-related mortality.<ref name="jey">Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2021 umbrella review found strong evidence that consumption of dairy products decreases risk of colorectal cancer.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Fermented dairy is associated with significantly decreased bladder cancer and colorectal cancer risk.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2023 review found no association between consumption of dairy products and breast cancer.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The British Dietetic Association have described the idea that milk promotes hormone related cancerous tumour growth as a myth, stating "no link between dairy containing diets and risk of cancer or promoting cancer growth as a result of hormones".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024, Cancer Research UK stated "there is no reliable evidence that casein or hormones in dairy causes cancer in people".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Cardiovascular disease

The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that people replace full-fat dairy products with nonfat and low-fat dairy products.<ref name="AMA 2021">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2017, the AMA stated that there is no high-quality clinical evidence that cheese consumption lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2021, they stated that "taken together, replacing full-fat dairy products with nonfat and low-fat dairy products and other sources of unsaturated fat shifts the composition of dietary patterns toward higher unsaturated to saturated fat ratios that are associated with better cardiovascular health".<ref name="AMA 2021"/>

In 2017, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand published an umbrella review which found an "overall neutral effect of dairy on cardiovascular risk for the general population".<ref>"Dairy and Heart Health". heartfoundation.org.nz. Retrieved 3 November 2023.</ref> Their position paper stated that "the evidence overall suggests dairy products can be included in a heart-healthy eating pattern and choosing reduced-fat dairy over full-fat dairy reduces risk for some, but not all, cardiovascular risk factors".<ref>Dairy and the heart - Position statement. heartfoundation.org.nz. Retrieved 3 November 2023.</ref>

In 2019 the National Heart Foundation of Australia published a position statement on full fat dairy products, "Based on current evidence, there is not enough evidence to recommend full fat over reduced fat products or reduced fat over full fat products for the general population. For people with elevated cholesterol and those with existing coronary heart disease, reduced fat products are recommended."<ref name="Statement">"Dairy & Heart Healthy Eating". heartfoundation.org.au. Retrieved 25 October 2023.</ref> The position statement also noted that the "evidence for milk, yoghurt and cheese does not extend to butter, cream, ice-cream and dairy-based desserts; these products should be avoided in a heart healthy eating pattern".<ref name="Statement"/>

Recent reviews of randomized controlled trials have found that dairy intake from cheese, milk and yogurt does not have detrimental effects on markers of cardiometabolic health.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2025 global analysis found that that total dairy consumption is associated with a 3.7% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and a 6% reduced risk of stroke.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Other

Consumption of dairy products such as low-fat and whole milk have been associated with an increased acne risk, however, Template:As of there is no conclusive evidence.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Fermented and low-fat dairy products are associated with a decreased risk of diabetes.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Consumption of dairy products are also associated with a decreased risk of gout.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

A 2023 review found that higher intake of dairy products is significantly associated with a lower risk of inflammatory bowel disease.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A 2025 review found that dairy product intake is associated with a lower incidence of tinnitus.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Avoidance on principle

Some groups avoid dairy products for non-health-related reasons. Some religions restrict or do not allow the consumption of dairy products. For example, some scholars of Jainism advocate not consuming any dairy products because dairy is perceived to involve violence against cows.<ref name="Wiley 2004 p. 78">Template:Cite book</ref> Orthodox Judaism requires that meat and dairy products not be served at the same meal, served or cooked in the same utensils, or stored together, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 14:21.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Veganism is the avoidance of all animal products, including dairy products, most often due to the ethics regarding how dairy products are produced. The ethical reasons for avoiding meat and dairy products include how dairy is produced, how the animals are handled, and the environmental effect of dairy production.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> According to a report of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in 2010 the dairy sector accounted for 4 percent of global human-made greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Growing awareness of dairy products' environmental impact, specifically greenhouse gas emissions, has led to many people reducing or avoiding dairy. In the EU, dairy is responsible for 27% of all diet related emissions, on average, while plant-based milks cause 2.5–4.5 times fewer emissions.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

See also

• List of dairy products
• List of dairy product companies in the United States
• Dairy industry in the United States
• Dairy industry in the United Kingdom
• Swiss cheeses and dairy products

Further reading

• Fuquay, John W. ed. Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences (2nd Edition, 4 vol 2011), comprehensive coverage.
• Rankin, H. F. (1922) Imbucase: the Story of the B. C. I. C. of the Ministry of Food. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Press (B.C.I.C.=Butter and Cheese Imports Committee).