Dairy product

Milk products and production relationships

A dairy product or milk product is food produced from the milk of mammals.[1] Dairy products are usually high energy-yielding food products. A production plant for the processing of milk is called a dairy or a dairy factory. Apart from breastfed infants, the human consumption of dairy products is sourced primarily from the milk of cows, water buffaloes, goats, sheep, yaks, horses, camels, domestic buffaloes, and other mammals. Dairy products are commonly found in European, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisine, whereas aside from Mongolian cuisine[2] they are little-known in traditional East Asian cuisine.

Types of dairy products

A dairy farm
A selection of three common dairy products made by a South African dairy company: a box of full cream, long life milk, a bottle of strawberry drinking yogurt, and a carton of passion fruit yogurt
The milk products of the Water buffaloes (super carabaos, Philippine Carabao Center)

Health

Dairy products can cause health issues for individuals who have lactose intolerance or a milk allergy.

Additionally dairy products including cheese, ice cream, milk, butter, and yogurt can contribute significant amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat to the diet. Diets high in fat and especially in saturated fat can increase the risk of heart disease and can cause other serious health problems.

Avoidance

Some groups avoid dairy products for non-health related reasons:

See also

References

  1. Tibetan cuisine has a use for yak milk which is eaten as rancid butter.

Further reading

External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on