Advantages of Healthy Double Toned Milk

Consumer choices have increased dramatically in our country in recent times and cow milk products are no exception in this regard. There are so many brands of cow milk products these days that it’s difficult to decide which one to choose. Moreover, there are so many varieties of cow milk products such as best full cream milk, toned milk, healthy double toned milk, etc., which further complicates decision making. Here, we intend to provide some pointers that will help you make the right decisions regarding exactly which type of cow milk product you should be buying. 

Calorie counter - This is an important decision making variable when attempting to choose between best full cream milk and healthy double toned milk. The fact is that full cream milk has more calories because its fat content is higher as compared to double toned milk. To decide which type of milk is best for you will depend on your bodily characteristics. For example, if you have an athletic physique and an active lifestyle, then you may go for full cream milk, since it will provide the required energy you need during the day. On the other hand, if you are overweight or obese or tend to gain weight faster, then you should probably choose double toned milk. You should also take a look at your cholesterol levels, as may have been revealed in laboratory tests, to decide which type of cow milk products to consume. 

Nutrition - The good thing about double toned milk is that even when it is low on fat, it has around the same type and quantity of nutrients, as supplied by best full cream milk. Double toned milk and full cream milk samples tested in accredited laboratories have revealed that double toned milk offers the same level of protein, carbohydrates, and calcium. This implies that when you are cutting down on calories with double toned milk, you are still getting the same type of nutrients as full cream milk.

Price gains – Price is yet another factor that tilts the balance in favor of healthy double toned milk. A survey of major milk brands has revealed that double toned milk is usually 20-35% cheaper in comparison to full cream milk.

Double toned milk is easier to digest and is less likely to make you feel lethargic, especially when you are at work and need the energy to go through the day. Overall, the decision to choose best full cream milk versus healthy double toned milk will depend on your lifestyle and existing health. Consulting a doctor will also help.

IIT student invents new method to detect milk adulteration

The issue of milk adulteration has become so widespread in India that everyone including the consumers, the media, NGOs, scientists and government officials seem to be clamoring to put an end to this nasty practice. This issue requires urgent action since it is threatening the health of everyone including children, adults and the old. Now, it appears that the issue of milk adulteration has caught the attention of the best brains in the country. 23-year old Avisek Barla, a final year B-Tech student from IIT Madras, has invented a new technique to detect milk adulteration. This simple and cheap technique is likely to contribute significantly towards winning the war against milk adulteration.

The new milk adulteration test kit

The new test kit to detect milk adulteration invented by Avisek Barla has already won the Gandhian Young Technical Innovation (GYTI) Award. The test kit is easy to use because it contains nothing more than a strip of paper, which detects milk adulterants in just a few seconds. The test kit is not only easy to use but also quite easy to manufacture on a commercial scale. Speaking to the media, Avisek said that the strip is divided into different zones and each zone has a different reagent applied to it. In layman’s terms, reagents are chemicals that react to a certain compound and display a specific characteristic such as a change in color or texture. When exposed to adulterated milk, the reagents on the strip change color to exactly identify the type of adulterant present in the fresh milk. 

According to Avisek, his milk adulteration test strip can detect as many as four adulterants in a single test - glucose, urea, boric acid and detergent. To make the strips, Avisek used a standard inkjet printer to “print” the chemicals on the paper in small amounts. He said that his invention is extremely cost-effective since the standard equipment used to detect milk adulteration costs around Rs 2 lakh and maintenance and test costs associated with these systems are also high. In comparison, his test strip would cost just around Rs 1.60 to manufacture.

Great for milk consumers and milk distributors

The cost of Rs 1.60 for the milk adulteration test kit is quite affordable for both milk consumers and milk distributors. Consumers can use the strip at their home, and milk distributors can use it to test milk before buying from farmers. When commercial production of the strip begins, it will provide an easy and cost-effective way to test milk adulteration. Avisek and his team are currently working to improve the strip so that it can detect several other types of milk adulterants.