So, Do You CHECK where Your Milk Product is from?
If you are a family with kids, then MILK is definitely in your grocery shopping list, yes? =)
And, if they’re ‘bigger kids’ (like mine, who are 7yo and soon-to-be 5yo), then my guess is … you have stopped buying powdered milk in tins?
Anya and Vai have been drinking fresh milk since they’re about 3 years old.
I’d usually pour some to the kids’ mugs and let them drink their milk cold. They’d have it with their breakfast cereals too.
As for me and Wilson, we either drink it cold too like the kids, or mix it with Milo =)
Recently, I was asked if I’ve ever CHECKED where the milk product I buy is actually from.
THAT made me stop and think, because hey … come to think of it, I have NEVER checked!
I know very few people who actually check the product labels (and expiry dates) whenever they go and buy something.
But err, I’m not quite like that.
When it comes to buying milk for the family, I have a few brands in mind and usually I’d just scan the rows of milk, look for our usual brands, and … grab the ones on sale, haha!
So, just recently, the kids and I spent a little more time at the supermarket.
We looked at a few different ‘fresh milk’ brands and checked out the labels.
And hey hey … interesting findings!
You see, I personally prefer ‘Australian Fresh Milk’, simply because I feel the milk from Australian cows are … better =)
I mean, the cows there are exposed to green pastures, fresh air and sunshine, and I somehow believe milk from such cows are higher in quality and somewhat tastes better! =)
Now.
After checking out the different labels, I actually found out that apparently, NOT ALL that I thought are ‘from Australia’ are actually ‘100% fresh milk from Australian dairy cows’!
Okay, check this out:
– GREENFIELDS
The pack (and its promoters) says that it’s milk from Australian dairy cows. Naturally, consumers assume Greenfields milk is from Australia.
But, a closer look at the product reveals that it is in fact ‘fresh milk from dairy cows IMPORTED from Australia’.
Now, I never knew that!
They ARE apparently Australian cows, that are farmed in Indonesia!
…
– I then took a closer look at MEIJI.
I’m sure I’m like many others who are under the impression that Meiji is made in Japan. But, hey hey … after a quick check on its label, it actually says, ”Made from 100% Fresh Milk’ and is ‘Product of Thailand’ (though it’s under ‘License and strict quality control by Meiji Dairies Corporation, Japan’).
Ah. So it is NOT made in Japan then?
Interesting.
– I checked out MARIGOLD Fresh Milk as well.
Frankly, I’ve never read their labels closely, well … not until that day at the supermarket. All this while, at the back of my mind, I sort of ‘assume’ that it’s probably from Malaysia or something.
But then the label says, ‘Ingredient: Fresh Milk’ and ‘100% Australian’!
.
I went on to check and I found out that MARIGOLD Fresh Milk IS from Australia, and it contains 100% fresh milk from Australian cows (Click the link to read more about it)
What a nice surprise!
The ones that I thought are from Australia and Japan are not really ‘fresh milk from those countries’, and the one that I thought is from Malaysia actually is fresh milk from Australian dairy cows, that are farmed in Australia!
(I wouldn’t have noticed all these facts / misconceptions, if I hadn’t checked the labels more closely)
If you haven’t taken a closer look at your milk products’ details all this while, I’d really recommend that you go and check them out before you grab your next bottles / cartons of milk.
And perhaps, just like me, you’ll be surprised too by what you’ll find!
Extra info to share :
– Singapore does not have a milk farming industry apart from the goat farms in Lim Chu Kang.
– Most milk found on our supermarket shelves are apparently imported in bulk from countries like Malaysia and Australia, and packed in Singapore, while some others are packed and imported from Thailand.
– Sometimes, the same brand of milk in 1-litre cartons and 2-litre bottles may come from different countries!
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Recently took a closer look at the labels on milk and found mostly did not list ingredients as “100% milk” instead was “milk solids” and a whole host of other things. 100% milk only if it’s “fresh milk”. So scary.
Yes, interesting how the majority of us skip that part of the info most of the time.
Wow i never notice all about this too before, thanks for all the sharings , recently my daughters still drink farmhouse here in singapore. I will move to indonesia soon, all these info really helps me a lot to find right milk for my daughters there. Thank u so much !
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment =)
Hope your move to Indonesia goes smoothly ya …
hi leony,
i want to ask where do you shop for your groceries in the pic? is it in singapore or indonesia?
there are a wide selection of milk there. it is difficult to find that many milk brands in the local supermarket in indonesia.
so I’m just wondering which supermarket that you went to.
Thank you
Hi Meiria! =)
The photos were taken in Singapore (post was written in August 2011 when we’re still living there =)
Sorry to pour cold water on your milk research but…
If you read the labels properly you will find that neither Pura nor Marigold contain 100% pure, fresh milk – they both contain additives – flavouring/conditioners – which make the milk taste artificial.
Of all the brands available in Singapore my kids prefer Low-fat Meiji as the closest in taste to real, fresh milk. Even the Aussie Farmhouse brand has a fattier taste that they do not like.
Thanks Sarah for dropping me a note and sharing your thoughts on this …
Sarah real fresh milk does have a fatty taste. Slim milk gets subjected to extra processing to remove the fat and hence no longer tastes like real milk. Also giving skim milk to children is associated with increased likelihood of overweight kids
Thanks for sharing this. We drink Meiji at home, the chocolate and low fat for us and normal one for Sophie and like it compared to the other brands.
Hi Susan,
I used to drink Meiji a lot too. Somehow after my recent ‘check’ at the supermarket, Meiji kind of becomes my third preference though … (unless it’s really REALLY on sale hehe … )
We love Pura. My gal is 3, she drinks fresh milk cold. We dont heat up milk. At 45C all protein in milk will get denature.
Hi Michelle,
I also don’t heat up the milk … Anyway we love it nice, fresh and cold =)
I used to always go for Pura, because we used to drink Pura all the time when in Australia. The only thing, when I checked out Pura recently (when I did the comparison), I saw how it’s not quite ‘fresh milk’. Hmm. If you haven’t seen the labels closely (and are willing to check it out further =) you’ll see what I mean …
(still, I do think the taste is yummy =)
Thanks for sharing it
I buy homebrand (safeway/woolworth brand), sometimes buy you’ll love Coles milk (which is Coles brand), cos those 2 are the cheapest as i mentioned above. the packagings don’t specify about the cows’ nationality. only says product of aust. so I assume the cows were born and bred and milked in aust. Also my friend who work in milk factory before told me, it doesn’t matter which brand you’re buying, they are putting the exact same milk, only to different bottle with different labels and charge different prices. So with that ‘insider’ info, I always buy the generic brand (ie. homebrand, you’ll love Coles).
Sis,
I somehow also ‘assume’ that whatever ‘fresh milk’ sold in Australia is from Australian dairy cows farmed in Australia. Since it’s cheaper to get local products anyway? Yes? No?
Anyway, I love how milk comes in THREE litres there in Australia!And, they’re way cheaper too than here. (but then, eggs and lots of other things are more expensive there hehe)
This is an interesting post! We buy Meiji from time to time, cos we prefer the more original taste of fresh milk as compared to the HL kind which is a tad sweetened.
Maybe time to check out Marigold.
You getting compensated for advertising Marigold here? 😉
Yes yes … I also feel the HL kind (or even anything that’s ‘less fat’ type) tastes … not as creamy and nice and fresh as .. ‘fresh milk’ =)
I shared over on my Facebook earlier, that after doing my checks, my two preferences nowadays are: Marigold and Farmhouse =)
Ci, kalau anak batuk tetap dikasih susu segar dingin? atau susunya di tim air panas dulu?
Hello,
Kebanyakan orang sih akan lebih kasih susu hangat kalau batuk yah … errr, tapi kalo kita (saya & suami) ckp ‘cingcai’ (alias santai) dalam hal gini2an, jadi tetep ajah sih anak2 minum susu segar dingin =) Kecuali mungkin waktu duluuu, waktu anaknya masih dibawah umur 2thn.
Hi Le,
I use marigold for my kids and they will drink it cold too and also mix with cereal for breakfast.
I might be quite particular on this so I always check the details of the milk and yoghurt before I buy it 😀
Recently I also try the organic milk “Organic Valley because my husband’s cousin also use that brand. But I still use marigold also, so I still mix. And They also still drink Enfagrow and Enfakids.
Yulia
http://www.mylifeismyrainbow.wordpress.com
Oh … never tried that one …
Thanks for sharing ya …
My boy is turning 6 years old soon but I am still buying powdered milk for him. I have the perception that powdered milk has more nutrients…. yes/ no? Also Chinese believe that kids should drink warm beverages which is better for their stomach. I drink cold milk but my husband can’t, due to lactose intolerance.
My usual brand is Meiji. After reading your post, I will try Marigold fresh milk. Maybe I will let my son try it too =)
Hi Crystal,
Can’t really say much about powdered milk vs fresh milk. I personally just thought at an older age, kids get their nutrients from lots of other things they consume. Plus they take multi-vitamins ..so it should suffice (at least, that’s what I personally feel and practise at home =)
I do get ‘reminders’ from my mom too when she visits us here in SG and she happens to see me drink ‘cold milk’ =)
Yes, somehow the Chinese believes in drinking warm / hot stuff =)
How interesting the info that you’ve found whilst reading labels. I am also one who seldom reads product labels. I will check the expiry date and that’s it.
Yep, same here … errr actually, sometimes I don’t even check the expiry date. Bad lah.
But really, it’s interesting what one can find out when they start looking closely at the product information!
Been buying Marigold since my girl drink freshmilk, and sometimes Meiji. And recently I’ve read a few Singaporean blog who also write the same thing about Marigold too….
=) And I like the taste of ‘fresh milk’ (read: not the ‘less fat’ ones … =)
Very interesting post! I always check the labels for everything, yoghurt, milk, cheese, butter, juice almost everything! My husband says am super fussy… Actually not like that I am kind of particular about which country. I love Australian products. For yoghurt I always buy Pauls/ farmer union. Milk I am buying farmhouse it says Australian milk but packed in Singapore by F&N and I know It’s not 100% fresh milk. Marigold is 100% fresh milk the promoter in ntuc told me once but somehow I like farmhouse… May be I should try Marilgold since like me u have dine the survey too. Will go and grab one can of Marilgold today! Thanks for enlightening …
=) Then you belong to the other type of people who always check yeah .. =) I have a friend too who’s like you. She’d check everything … and she feels she needs to before she can buy anything =)
Anyway, thanks for sharing your choices of brands you usually buy …
We moved to Singapore from Australia and finding milk like home was tough.
Beware of any Australian Cows exported to INdonesia. It’s been banned now in Australia due to the savage conditions the poor animals were being kept.
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for sharing that info. Am not aware about that!
As for Australian Milk, I used to ‘always’ drink Pura when I was back in Perth! Somehow, Pura milk here is ‘different’ though (and it’s not ‘fresh milk’? hmmm)
Hi Leony,
I’m anna. We just move from US to indonesia. I found greenfield milk not from aussie. I thought that from aussie, but that’s from indonesia:(.
Now, i am looking for organic milk because i concern about non organic milk that contain female hormone that can make problem in the future. So difficult.
Tanya,
Is it still ban australian cows that exported to indonesia now? Thank you
GREAT POST! We are a Marigold Family, and yes Aussie cows are better 🙂
Thanks!
As for the cows, hehe … I think so too!!
interesting findings… me? i’ve never checked either. I just assumed that all milk is from australian cows farmed in aust and I always buy the generic brand only since it is d cheapest one. 3litre milk for $3. I shall check and get back to you about this