Milk consumption in Thailand

[Nereus]

Probably open up a can of worms with this, but I will try and track down a few facts. Just cows' milk, not goats, buffaloes, camels or any other milk producing animal.

To start with I have to state that I grew up on a dairy farm in Australia, so for the first 20 odd years of my life milking cows was a daily occurrence. My Father had what was termed a "quota" licence, whereby he had a contract to supply a stipulated quantity of milk at a premium price to a local processing factory. Milk supplied over the quota amount was classed as "surplus" and attracted a lower price. In those days the milk was sent to the factory in 10 gallon "milk cans", or churns. The cans were picked up twice a day by a contractor on an open tray truck, or some farmers delivered it themselves.

The actual milking machine consisted of a vacuum pump, an antiquated long mechanical sliding valve mechanism that alternatively opened and closed the vacuum to the actual cups that had to be attached to the cow's teats, and a device called a "releaser", also vacuum operated. The milk was "released" into an open vat that fed the milk into and over a water cooled "cooler", which in turn had a tray under it the width of the cooler and wide enough to fit three milk cans under it to collect the milk. Woe betide whoever forgot to keep a check on the cans and allowed them to overflow!

About the only part of that still in use today is the vacuum pump. Modern systems us electronic controls and the milk is stored in a refrigerated holding tank and picked up with a bulk tanker, usually only once a day, and in some places every second day.

There have been similar advances in Thailand, but in some places you can still see the old style cans being used. Also, as in Australia, the smaller family dairy farms are gradually disappearing and big company operated farms are taking over.

There are Government controls and regulations in place, both concerning the quality of the milk and the handling of it. But TIT will probably prevail, and I am not up with just what happens up to the farm gate.

http://www.acfs.go.th/standard/download ... w_milk.pdf

As consumers we should be more interested in both the quality and the safety of what we buy in the supermarket. There has been, and is ongoing, foreign input into both production and processing of "raw" milk in Thailand. The late King had a small dairy in the Palace in Bangkok where he experimented with both cow breeds and processing.

Thai Danish is a big operator, Chokchai Farms have a big operation where their production is processed at their own factory on their farm. The Japanese are involved in the Meiji brand milk.

In recent years better milk producing breed cows have been imported, but a lot of them have had to be cross bred with locally bred stock. The "raw" milk quality is not up to the standard of for example, Australia. There is very little good quality grazing farmland in Thailand, resulting in the herds tending to be housed and hand fed, rather than allowed to graze. The climate is also not conducive to such breeds as Friesian / Holstein. The end result is not only lower quantity production, but also lower fat levels in the milk.

As mentioned in another thread, there are several alternatives available in the market, in regards to how the milk for consumer consumption is presented.

I will copy an interesting view here to save trying to write the same thing:

"quote:
1) Raw milk. Means straight from the cow/farm. Has undergone NO heat treatment, It is illegal to sell in most countries due to the risk of disease. (me- one of the biggest dangers to humans with "raw milk" comes from what is called "somatic cell count". TB is also another known problem using raw milk)

2) Pasteurised milk. Heat treated at 75 degrees C for 15 seconds. Must be kept chilled. Typical shelf-life is 7-10 days - especially in a climate like Thailand.

3) Extended shelf-life pasteurised milk. Heat treated at 130-133 degrees C for 2-4 seconds. Must be kept chilled. Typical shelf-life is 20-30 days - especially in a climate like Thailand. If ESL milk is not kept chilled it will only have the same shelf life as pasteurised milk. ESL technology is mostly seen in USA, and is used by at least one of the large processors in Thailand

4) Ultra high temperature milk. Heat treated at 138-145 degrees C for 4 seconds. Must be packed into sterile packages under a sterile environment. Does not need to be stored chilled. Typical shelf-life is 4-12 months - Shelf-life is achieved by sterile product in a sterile pack - there are no preservatives or anything added. UHT technology is widely used in Europe and Asia.

In terms of "quality" there is no significant difference between 2), 3), and 4). The main nutritional components consumers want in milk are protein and calcium (and fat for children) and some other mineral and vitamins. None of the main nutritional components are significantly affected by any of these 3 heat treatments.
Consumers will find milk on the market here with different fat and protein contents. These are nothing to do with the heat treatment technique. They are due to either manufacturer or consumer preference (low fat milk for example)
Finally, "taste". As with all food, it is in the hand (or mouth!) of the consumer. If you find something you like, and it has the quality and nutritional content you want, then buy it!
unquote"

Not mentioned above is the "homogenized" process. This process consists of a very high pressure pump (piston type), that forces the milk through a fine "screen" that breaks up the globules of fat and results in one "homogenized" or single product. That means that the layer of cream once stolen by the birds, no longer forms under the lid of a bottle.

The second thing not mentioned is "skim milk". This is milk that has been processed through a centrifuge, or "separator", and all of the fat extracted and called cream. The skim milk can be further processed into powder, or used as it is.

There has been a comment made (HHTel), concerning " reconstituted milk". Just kidding you about not knowing what it is!

I cannot find any current relevant numbers on just how much of the milk in the market falls under this category. For sure, 10 or 15 years ago there would have been a big percentage, but I doubt that is the case today. What is sometimes overlooked with milk powder (dried milk) is the amount used in manufacturing other products, such as bread and cakes, cooking etc.

A big (reportedly 30%) of fresh milk in Thailand is used in the school milk program. This is supposed to be a highly regulated system, but the usual "me first" twats have been know to take a cut.

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ ... ailand.pdf


https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... n-cambodia

Enough for now.

[VincentD]

Many Asians do not consume milk as they have lactose intolerance. Also, with skim milk, the 'goodness' has been extracted, leaving behind casein and other such stuff, which can cause lactose intolerance. The 'cheese' you see sold in most supermarkets is the processed stuff, which contains around half of the actual thing (I tend to read the fine print on the package), some not even qualifying to be called cheese.
Not a milk drinker, though I do occasionally use it in cooking. Prefer the amber- coloured stuff..

[Nereus]

School milk goes under the microscope

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

The Agriculture Ministry has ordered an "urgent" nationwide inspection of the provision of milk to schools under the school milk project in order to assess each supplier’s performance.

Last year, an inspection found rotten milk had been distributed to schools in Bangkok and the surrounding area, prompting the recall of over 100,000 cartons.

Milk delivery is due to resume at schools nationwide as many begin the new term tomorrow.
“I’ve ordered not only the Department of Livestock Development, but every department under the ministry, to take part in the inspection,” said Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach on Sunday.

The Department of Agricultural Extension, for instance, has more than 800 units across the country and they will be visiting schools to monitor the punctuality, quality and quantity of milk supplied by contracted suppliers, he said.
"Any suppliers found in breach of their agreements with schools will be punished by having their quota cut and given to other suppliers next term," he said.

Mr Grisada recently sent a Line application message containing an “extremely urgent” order to the permanent secretary for agriculture, permanent secretary for interior, permanent secretary for education, director-general of Department of Local Administration and every provincial governor, to remind them of the Agriculture Ministry’s plan to inspect the school milk scheme this term.

Following the previous problems with the scheme, the cabinet ordered the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to adjust its school milk distribution system, said Mr Grisada in the message.

The ministry had therefore formed a new committee to manage the scheme and five subcommittees to implement the policy, he said.

These subcommittees have already assigned milk quotas to suppliers based on the number of students in each area and the capacity of each supplier, he said.
Any suppliers who find the allocation unfair are allowed to lodge complaints with the governor of the province, but they must still fulfil the contracts, he said.

The livestock development office and the agriculture office in each province were also asked by Mr Grisada to take part in the inspection.

Pupils at Anuan Tantawan School in Bang Bon district drink milk during a class break on Sept 5, 2018.

c1_1680544_620x413.jpg (37.83 KiB) Viewed 785 times

[Nereus]

Govt touts milk benefits for growth

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

Nearly 9% of Thai children aged between six to 14 fall short of the country’s set height average, the Department of Health said on Thursday ahead of World Milk Day on Saturday.

Department director-general, Dr Phaphimon Wipulakon, said of those considered “short” for their age, the average height for girls stood at only 149.9 centimetres, while boys averaged out at only 148.6cm.
“The average height for 12-year-old girls and boys should be around 155cm and 154cm, respectively,” she said.
“We want to bring the percentage of ‘short’ children down to 5% from the current level of 8.8%,” Dr Phaphimon said.

Drinking milk is being promoted by the government as one way of increasing the average height of Thais.
“We are encouraging everyone to drink at least two standard servings of fresh, plain milk every day, especially during pregnancy and adolescence,” said Dr Phaphimon.

“Children should also eat the equivalent of one whole egg per day to ensure sufficient protein intake, exercise for at least an hour each day, and sleep between nine to 11 hours each day to maximise the effect of the human growth hormone, most of which is secreted at night time.”

Currently, Thai children only drink an average of one glass of milk a day, Dr Phaphimon added.

Established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to promote the value of milk as a part of healthy diet, World Milk Day is celebrated each year on June 1.

[Dannie Boy]

If milk was more affordable, I’m sure the consumption would increase - the average supermarket price in Thailand is almost double that in the UK

[Nereus]

If milk was more affordable, I’m sure the consumption would increase - the average supermarket price in Thailand is almost double that in the UK

Yes, I have often wondered about that. My mate in Australia has just closed up his dairy after battling to meet costs for several years. His gate price was around 50 cents / 11 Baht / litre. The big Supermarkets have been under fire for selling milk for $1 / 22 Baht / litre.
Here, from what I can find out, producers receive around the same price, but with much lower costs. So the markup has to be the processers / distributors.

[HHTel]

Drinking milk is being promoted by the government as one way of increasing the average height of Thais.

What a load of poppycock. Only in Thailand would you hear something like this!
Your maximum height is predetermined by genetics. Nothing can make you grow taller. They must think the Dutch are addicted to milk.

No wonder the education in Thailand is questionable when garbage like this is spouted by the 'experts'!

[hhinner]

And girls taller than boys?

[oakdale160]

They are pumping Growrh Hormones into the cows, that might have some effect.

[handdrummer]

1 egg supplies 6 grams of protein. Humans need a minimum of 14 grams a day to sustain life. That figure comes from the USDA in the 1930's. It's probably higher now that humans are taller and larger.

[hin]

Only in Thailand would you hear something like this! Your maximum height is predetermined by genetics. Nothing can make you grow taller.

Genetics is only one factor. It is well known that the average height of the world’s civilized populations has dramatically increased in the last few generations. Not due to generics but due to improvement in average lifestyle habits, better nutrition knowledge and diet. Good nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyle can help a growing body refuse to obey “genetics” Milk’s principal contribution is calcium = bone health and development and milk in the schools helps get it to the poor and less fortunate kids who will never see it at home

Maybe we are coming full circle with a corollary being the recent trend of so many people growing in diameter. And many of them like to blame that on genetics too. But a more accurate answer is again proper diet and reasonable exercise. First at the elbows - pushing away from the table. And of course putting the right things on the table But if all else fails, getting down on the floor to do push-ups can eclipse “genetics” It has been proven. We are talking about raising a healthy crop of kids, with what we know today, not cloning their ancestors by keeping them to the old disproven habits.

ps: the Dutch have been well known for their dairy products, especially their varieties of excellent cheeses

[HHTel]

I think the jury is still out on this question. However, the general view is:

As best as the current science can answer it, no, milk doesn't make you grow taller, simply because, well, nothing can make you grow taller. But milk can be a useful tool to help kids grow to their potential height.

[huahin4ever]

Somebody told me once that Asians are generally smaller due to the main staple in their food is rice, and Westerners grow taller because we have bread and potato as main staple in our food. Could there be some truth to this?

[handdrummer]

Somebody told me once that Asians are generally smaller due to the main staple in their food is rice, and Westerners grow taller because we have bread and potato as main staple in our food. Could there be some truth to this?

Bread and potatoes can make you wider, not taller.

Thais are taller than most SE Asians.

Many Asians are lactose intolerant so forcing children to drink more milk isn't the best solution to a non-problem.

Condsidering alll the other problems in Thai society is growing taller really a priority?

Once again, the Land of Everything Done Backwards misses the point.

[Tunafish]

nereus,
milk is not indigenous to S,E Asia.
If you want to extol in all of it's virtues, I suggest you return to Oz.