Eduqas GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition: Student Book

246 COMMODITIES Alternatives to cow milk Many people are lactose intolerant , meaning that they are unable to digest the lactose (natural sugar) found in cowmilk. The bacteria in the gut will feed on this unabsorbed lactose causing varying degrees of abdominal symptoms. Most large supermarkets tend to stock a limited amount of sheep or goat milk; both are possible alternatives for the lactose intolerant. A small minority of people can be allergic to the proteins in milk so will have to follow a ‘dairy free’ diet to avoid serious allergic reactions. Soya beans, oats, rice, almonds and coconuts can all be processed to produce a white liquid that can be used as a substitute for animal milk. These alternative ‘milks’ are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals to improve nutritional values. These products are now widely available in most supermarkets and are used due to health reasons, lactose intolerance or by vegetarians. How is milk used? Milk is very versatile and forms the ‘liquid’ part of many recipes. Milk type Recipes that use milk All fresh, UHT and sterilised milk In hot drinks, smoothies, white/cheese sauce, custard, panna cotta, batters, rice pudding Evaporated milk Pour over desserts, tarte au chocolat, add to coffee Condensed milk Fudge, caramel, millionaire shortbread Dried milk Add water to the dried milk and use as fresh How should milk be stored? • Fresh milk should always be stored in a refrigerator at 5 ºC. The milk bottle should have a tight fitting lid and be stored away from strong smelling foods. • Milk should not be kept in sunlight. • Do not mix old and new milk together. • Sterilised and UHT milk can be stored unopened at room temperature. However, once the bottle/pack has been opened it must be stored in a cold refrigerator. • Evaporated milk has a long shelf life and can be stored, unopened, in a kitchen cupboard. Once opened, evaporated milk must be treated like fresh milk and kept in a cold refrigerator. • Condensed milk once opened should ideally be stored in a cold refrigerator. However, because it has been treated at a high temperature and is high in sugar, it can be stored for a day or two at room temperature in a lidded container. • Dried milk can be stored for a very long time, at room temperature, in a lidded container. Once the dried milk is reconstituted it MUST be treated like fresh milk and stored in a cold refrigerator.  Key terms Emulsion – a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another. Lactose – the natural sugar found in milk. Tuberculosis – a serious bacterial infection found in cattle. Pasteurisation – a specific heat treatment applied to some foods. Homogenisation – the breaking down of large milk fat globules into much smaller fat globules. Pathogenic bacteria – disease causing bacteria. Reconstituted – liquid or water has been added to a dried food. 1 Lactose is found inmilk. What is lactose? 2 Explain what is meant by‘food intolerance’. 3 Explain what is meant by‘food allergy’. Check it State four rules for the safe storage of milk in the home. Check it