Australian milk processors have announced that they would not be adding the by-product permeate to their branded products,in response to public concern over the use of the additive.
Permeate is the liquid left behind after milk is separated into cream and low fat milk.It is added back to milk products by dairy companies in order lower milk production cost.
Lion,maker of Dairy Farmers and Pura brands,and Parmalat-which sells Pauls brands,said that their milk would be permeate free beginning 1 July.Several milk processors are expected to follow this trend.
According to Lion,the decision to stop the use of permeate to milk products was a step taken in response to consumer surveys.
In April,the Sydney Morning Herald reported that leaked National Foods(a subsidiary of Lion)documents showed that its milk products contained high levels of permeate.This report led to increasing consumer concern over the addition of permeate.
