Organic milk powder

The raw material for organic milk powder is organic cow’s milk. People have been drinking cow’s milk for more than 7,500 years, and those who tolerate milk and dairy products well can obtain a unique combination of valuable nutrients through daily consumption. That is why milk and foods made from it, such as cheese, quark, and yogurt, are practically staple foods in this country. In at least 42 countries around the world, milk and dairy products are an established part of official dietary recommendations.

How is milk powder made?

Milk powder (also known as dried milk powder) is defined as “a dried milk product made by removing all the free water from milk.” It can be made from whole milk or skimmed milk. It all starts in the pasture …

1. PASTURE

   For milk to be labeled pasture-raised milk, a cow must spend at least 120 days a year on pasture for at least 6 hours a day. Cows should be able to move around freely all year round and have access to outdoor exercise during the winter months as well. Only non-GMO feed is provided as supplementary feed; under the EU Organic Regulation, 60 percent of the daily feed must consist of hay, grass, clover, and forage silage.

   IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE

2. MILKING

   Milking a cow properly means taking the animal’s physiological needs into account. Milking routines and hygiene are essential for good udder health and therefore also for high milk quality. Animal-friendly procedures include briefly forestripping by hand to detect changes in the milk, as well as cleaning and drying the teats. This pretreatment stimulates the “milk let-down hormone” oxytocin and enables rapid milking that is gentle on the udder. Final teat disinfection prevents pathogens from forming.

   THE ESSENTIALS

3. DRYING

   The liquid milk must be turned into powder so that we can use it in our drinking meal. We chose spray-dried powder. In a “spray tower,” the milk is sprayed into the air through extremely fine nozzles. During this process, the milk itself reaches a maximum temperature of 70–80 °C. This is highly beneficial for preserving the nutrients.
   

   SPRAY-DRIED INTO POWDER

4. GOODS-IN INSPECTION

   Every incoming delivery is rigorously inspected by our food control specialists during goods-in inspection. Its organic origin is verified. Another important inspection criterion is hygiene, which applies to both the packaging and the contents of the delivery. The packaging must not be damaged or show any signs of moisture. Visual checks provide information about the consistency and purity of the milk powder.

   TRUST IS GOOD, CONTROL IS BETTER

5. STORAGE

   Dried milk powder is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the surrounding air and can then form lumps. It must therefore be stored in a room without high humidity. In addition to being dry, the room should be kept consistently cool and protected from direct sunlight.

   DRY AND DARK

But why milk?

Organic milk, from which our organic milk powder is made, is a valuable food with a very balanced basic mix of nutrients. Using organic milk powder goes without saying: all our ingredients are organic quality. Studies have also shown that the fatty acid composition of organic milk or pasture milk differs from that of conventionally produced milk. Among other things, it contains higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients and must be obtained through food.

Milk and products made from it provide numerous other essential nutrients. These include important vitamins and minerals. Milk, for example, is a significant source of vitamin B12 (cobalamin). This white food also contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), as well as vitamin A (retinol) and folic acid. Notable minerals include calcium, magnesium, iodine, and zinc. A sometimes considerable proportion of the daily requirement for these vitamins and minerals (according to the D_A_C_H reference value) can be covered by half a liter of milk. Thanks to milk's special composition, all nutrients are highly bioavailable. This also applies to the two perhaps best-known nutrients in milk: calcium and protein.

Calcium is primarily needed for the development and stability of our bones. The protein components of milk and milk sugar promote the incorporation of calcium into the bones. For adults, half a liter of milk provides well over half of the daily calcium requirement.

The protein content of the milk powder is around 25 percent, which is very high. Protein is an important building block for muscles and cells. Enzymes and some hormones also consist of proteins. Protein also serves as a carrier for iron and other substances in the blood. Milk protein has particularly high biological value, meaning it can be converted very effectively into the body's own protein.

What applies to milk also applies to our organic milk powder. Thanks to its gentle processing, the valuable nutrients are retained almost completely. That is why it is important to us to enrich our BERTRAND meal replacement drink with the high-quality nutrients found in milk. Last but not least, with a fat content of around 26 percent, organic milk powder is not only filling but also delicious. Fat is undisputedly a flavor carrier, and the skimmed milk powder gives our drinkable meals a pleasantly rich, smooth aroma. The milk sugar content of 38 percent gives the finished product a mild, slightly sweet undertone.

Despite all reservations

Many sources point to an adverse effect on the body when milk is consumed. However, the current body of evidence is inconclusive, so the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. At present, all major professional organizations recommend consuming dairy products.

What reservations are there about milk?

Conventional dairy farms in particular have a reputation for keeping animals in unsuitable conditions and exploiting them. By using milk powder produced according to EU organic standards and, wherever possible, from Bioland pasture-raised milk, we try to take animal welfare into account as much as possible.

Nevertheless, we understand that some of our customers may wish to avoid milk and dairy products for ethical reasons. For them, we developed our BERTRAND drinkable meal in a vegan version. BERTRAND vegan is naturally also suitable for anyone who suffers from lactose intolerance and must avoid milk for health reasons.

Other reservations about milk focus specifically on this aspect of health. Special websites claim that consuming milk may not only provide no benefit, but could even cause harm. According to the Max Rubner Institute (Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food), these claims have not been scientifically substantiated. Instead, like the professional organizations in many countries, the institute recommends consuming 1–3 servings of milk and dairy products per day to provide protein, calcium, and other micronutrients. The unique and beneficial composition of milk fat is expressly highlighted. At BERTRAND, for the benefit of our customers, we follow scientific standards as well as the recommendations of the DGE (German Nutrition Society) and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority).