Madeleine Heffernan
July 17, 2012
The Age
WOOLWORTHS and Coles say their private-label milk will become free of permeate, a watery waste product from the production of cheese.
The shift follows a report by The Age revealing that milk from National Foods – home of popular milk brands Pura and Dairy Farmers, and supplier to both supermarkets – contained up to 16 per cent permeate.
The report, released in April and citing internal documents, showed that almost $23,000 could be saved by adding 16 per cent permeate to the production of 350,000 litres of whole milk. Coles spokesman Jim Cooper said Coles’ private-label milk is already permeate-free in some parts of Australia.
”We’re working with our milk processors to make all Coles brand milk permeate-free in the coming months.”
Woolworths has also confirmed it is in discussions with suppliers about shifting to permeate-free milk.
More than half of Australia’s milk sales took place in supermarkets in the year to March, and the bulk of those were private-label milk, according to industry body Dairy Australia.
Woolworths and Coles have contracts with Lion, Parmalat, Murray Goulburn and Harvey for their private-label milk.
Milk giants Lion and Parmalat are now spruiking their own permeate-free fresh milk and citing commissioned research showing shoppers want less processed food.
Permeate is often added to milk at different times of the year to standardise protein and fat content. It has no known health risks.
David Lord, chief executive of dairy company Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory, said it would be fascinating to watch how consumers respond to any change in the taste of milk.
With Mark Hawthorne and Maris Beck
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