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Facts About Dairy Products

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Leading Milk-Producing States
of Cows on Milk Recording Plans (1999)
Rank

State

Milk production (billion lb)

# of cows (million)

lb/cow

1

California

30.5

1.5

20,788

2

Wisconsin

23.1

1.4

16,902

3

New York

12.0

0.7

17,175

4

Pennsylvania

10.9

0.6

17,745

5

Minnesota

9.5

0.5

17,391

Louis Pasteur

In 1856, French scientist Louis Pasteur discovered that heating liquids to high temperatures kills bacteria. This process is called pasteurization, and it protects the purity and flavors of milk.

Dairy Products

Milk is sometimes called nature's most nearly perfect food.

The best sources of calcium are milk, yogurt, and cheese. About 72% of the calcium in the U.S. food supply comes from dairy foods.

These foods also provide protein and several other important nutrients.

Food Guide Pyramid

According to the Federal Government's Food Guide Pyramid, children ages 9-18 need 3 servings of dairy products daily. Only 30 percent of teenage boys and 12 percent of teenage girls meet this recommendation.

Cereal

A recent USDA study found nearly two-fifths of the U.S. population may suffer from a B-12 deficiency. B-12 deficiency can cause anemia, confusion, loss of balance, and nerve damage. The solution, according to USDA, is to eat more fortified cereals and dairy products.

Holstein

U.S. cows give an average of 6-1/2 gallons of milk per day. That's over 100 glasses of milk -- enough for 33 children to have 3 glasses each day!

Refrigerator

Milk remains fresh for 7-10 days after the expiration date if refrigerated at 35-40°F. Each 5° (F) rise in temperature shortens milk's shelf life by 50% because of bacteria growth.

Cheese

People crave cheese more than any
other food.

Pizza

Americans eat about 350 slices of pizza per second, or almost 3 billion pizzas per year. That's a whole lot of cheese!

Ice Cream Cone

25 gallons of milk can make 9 gallons of ice cream, 25 pounds of cheese, or 11 pounds of butter. It takes about 30 cups of milk to make 1 pound of butter.

Glass of Milk

99 percent of all U.S. households purchase milk. The average American consumes almost 25 gallons of milk a year ... that's 400 glasses!

Milk Lab

The demand for lower fat (low-fat and skim) milks has increased:

  • 1979: 36% lower fat, 64% whole milk
  • 1999: 64% lower fat, 36% whole milk

Cow

Calcium in soy milk is not as readily available for the body to use as it is in cow's milk.

Taco

Besides milk, other dairy foods you can eat to help you get calcium are:

  • Yogurt
  • Cheese -- like on your sandwich, on pizza, on tacos, or in macaroni and cheese
  • Pudding
  • Ice cream

 Calendar

  June is dairy month.

Top 6 Dairy Companies (Total sales, 1999)

1

Kraft -- Glenview, Illinois

2

Suiza Foods Corp. -- Dallas, Texas

3

Dean Foods -- Franklin Park, Illinois

4

Land O'Lakes -- Arden Hills, Minnesota

5

Dairy Farmer of America -- Kansas City, Missouri

6

Kroger -- Cincinnati, Ohio

Dairy Quiz

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