Indians consume a lot of milk and milk products in their daily diet. Many households buy packaged milk from popular dairy brands and then always boil the milk before consuming it. If they want to drink cold milk, they first have to cool the boiled milk and then refrigerate it. However, is it even necessary to boil packaged and pasteurised milk? Is it wrong to drink milk straight from the packet without boiling it? We asked doctors these questions and here is what they said:
Packaged milk is pasteurized and safe
“Packaged milk is pasteurised, that is, it is heated to destroy harmful bacteria and increase the shelf life of the milk. It is generally safe to drink it straight away without boiling it,” explains Ruchika Jain, chief dietician, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj.
Pasteurization is the process where milk is heated to a high temperature for a specific amount of time, killing most dangerous bacteria and viruses, including the avian flu virus, mycobacteria, E. coli, Coxiella, Listeria, and Campylobacter.
Dr Rajeev Gupta, Director, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi, confirms, “The pasteurisation and storage of packaged milk determines whether it should be boiled before consumption. Pasteurised milk can be consumed without boiling if it is properly stored and packaged.”
However, to ensure safety, raw milk should always be boiled before drinking.
When should we boil pasteurised milk?
Doctors said pasteurised, packaged milk is safe for direct consumption, but they also said that in some cases, boiling pasteurised milk is also safe. “If there are concerns about the storage and transportation conditions of pasteurised milk, boiling can be an additional safety precaution,” says Dr Rajiv Gupta.
Also read: Is your milk safe? Food authority suggests easy test to find out
Ruchika Jain, Chief – Dietician, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj, explains, “Storage and transportation at the right temperature (below 8°C) is also important in the safety of milk. If pasteurised milk is not stored/transported at the right temperature, there are chances of bacterial growth in it. In that case, we can boil the milk and use it, especially if we want to use hot and creamy milk.”
In addition to destroying potentially harmful bacteria, boiling milk has another benefit – it can be “better tolerated and digested,” explains Dr. Rajiv Gupta. Boiled milk “contains more medium- and short-chain fatty acids than long-chain fatty acids.” This can help people who have difficulty digesting milk due to protein allergies or lactose intolerance.
Can boiling milk destroy nutrients?
According to WebMD, tests have shown that boiled milk has lower levels of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B2, B3, B6 and folic acid. “While boiling pasteurized milk may alter whey proteins and reduce some vitamins, such as riboflavin, it has no effect on casein, which makes up 80% of milk protein,” says Dr. Rajiv Gupta. The presence of casein protein is what gives milk its white color.
Armed with expert knowledge, you will now know when it is better to boil milk at home, and when it is safe to consume pasteurised milk straight away!
Also read: Eating a whole banana or drinking a banana smoothie – which is healthier? Experts explain
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides general information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
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