15 Amazing Facts about Milk

It is both the food of infants and the food of gods. It is shared between species all across the globe, and has been a staple in the American diet for centuries. Here are 15 amazing facts about milk.

Facts about milk:

1. Milk is white because of its fat content. Although milk is composed of approximately 87% water, which is colorless, the fat and protein molecules floating inside it reflect all light wavelengths, making it appear white.
2. On average, a cow produces 6.3 gallons of milk each day. That’s nearly 2,300 gallons per year. The most milk produced by a single cow in one year was 59,298 pounds. The record is held by a Holstein cow by the name of Robtham Suzette Paddy of The family-run Robthom Farm near Springfield, Missouri. At her peak, Sue produced more than 200 lbs. per day.
3. The US diary industry has repeatedly attempted to sue producers of dairy alternatives. They believe only animal milk deserves the label “milk.” However, the word has been used for milk-like substances since 1200 AD, and in 2018, the court ruled that almond milk is unlikely to be confused with dairy milk.
4. In Uganda, the title for “king” is “Omukama,” which means “superior milkman”. The Bantu title refers to the king’s role as feeder of his people. Moreover, rulers in the ancient Ugandan kingdoms were of Hema descent—a minority group known for being cattle holders.
5. Milk will stay fresher if you add salt. Adding a pinch of salt or baking soda to each carton as soon as you open it will keep milk fresh for over a week past its expiration date. The active ingredients preserve the milk, keeping it from spoiling so quickly. You can also pop it in the freezer!
6. The world’s rarest cheese is made from donkey milk. It was long thought that it is impossible to make cheese out of donkey’s milk because the liquid doesn’t contain enough casein to coagulate. However, the Serbian cheesemonger Slobodan Simić found a roundabout way to make it. He sells his cheese for $500 per pound.
7. Milk is the only food that you can survive wholly on. No single vegetable, legume, or type of carbohydrate contains all nine essential amino acids that human require to build proteins, and a meat-only diet lacks the necessary Vitamin C. Milk, however, contains every nutrient we need—even as adults.
8. The average American consumes 18 gallons of milk in a year. While the entire nation goes through roughly 21 billion gallons annually, Americans drink more carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, and beer than milk.
9. Lactating cows drink as much as 420 pounds of water daily. Water weighs 8.3 lbs. per gallon. Though normally a milking dairy cow drinks between 30 to 50 gallons of water per day, this can double in the hotter months.
10. According to Greek mythology, our galaxy is formed out of the Queen of the Gods’ spilt milk. In the myth, Zeus’s wife, Hera, was pushing baby Hercules away when several drops of milk dropped from her breast and into the night sky. The name “Milky Way” is actually a translation of the Greek term for “milky circle,” the name ancient peoples gave to our corner of the universe.
11. June is National Dairy Month. Originally called National Milk Month, the observance began in 1937 as a way to steady dairy demand when there was a surplus of production. Now it is an annual tradition run by the National Dairy Council to celebrate the industry and its contributions.
12. Milk alternatives now command over 13% of the milk market. And the numbers are growing. Dairy Milk sales were down more than a billion dollars in 2018, largely due to the growing popularity of plant-based products.
13. Milk is still produced by family farms. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 98% of dairy farms in the US are still family owned and operated.
14. India is the world’s largest producer of milk. However, their main product is skimmed milk powder; they export very few other dairy products.
15. Countries that drink milk win more Nobel prizes. According to a 2013 study, the nations whose citizens consume the most dairy per capita also win the most Nobel Prizes. Sweden is at the top of the list, with 31.855 prizes for every 10 million Swedes. On average, each Swede consumes 772 lbs. of milk annually.

Liked these facts about milk? Check out these 15 facts about Bananas.

Also, go ahead and share some fun facts about milk that we might have missed below in the comments.