Fluid Milk Consumption Research Articles

Consumer Behavioural Patterns Towards Milk and Dairy Products: An Analytical Investigation of an Indian Dairy Supply Chain

Background: India has the most significant milk production and consumption level in the world. Fluid milk consumption will rise to 90 million metric tons in FY 2024 (Annual Report 202-23, United States Department of Agriculture). Milk is an essential component of daily diet in every age segment in India. Consumers’ behaviour and consumption patterns are based on their choices and preferences about product quality, price and preferences. This article critically investigates the consumer perception towards indigenous dairy markets and their consumption and behavioural pattern. Methods: Quantitative approach and Multiple Logistic Linear Regression Analysis (MLLRA) technique was used to test the hypothesis to establish a direct and indirect relationship among endogenous and exogenous variables. The sample was drawn from rural and urban regions of India’s top ten milk-producing states. Result: The research findings suggested a significant relationship between the direct and indirect role of consumers buying behaviour characteristics towards milk and dairy products and their satisfaction level. This research is limited to milk processors, dairy companies and dairy scientists in the field of marketing and dairy research. Dairy Farmers, Processors and Producers are vigilant about the quality of food products, especially milk delivered to their end users and their value-addition in the Milk Supply Chain (MSC) and logistics. In the past three years, during the unprecedented COVID-19, consumers’ consciousness level about health and well-being has been argued.

Prevalence and determinants of insufficient vitamin D status in young Canadian Inuit children from Nunavik.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has reached pandemic levels affecting over one billion people worldwide. However, limited data is available on the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D status of Canadian Indigenous children and no study has been reported in Inuit children from Nunavik. Aim: Therefore, using data collected between 2006 and 2010, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and main determinants of insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s25(OH)D) concentrations in Inuit children attending childcare centres in Nunavik. Methods: This study included 245 Inuit children aged 11 to 54 months. s25(OH)D concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Dietary intakes were assessed using 24-hour recalls. Usual dietary intakes were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. We used a multiple imputation technique to replace missing values when performing regression analysis. Results: Our findings revealed that 64.5% of children had a s25(OH)D concentration < 75 nmol/L, while 78.1% did not meet the estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamin D. Vitamin D intake and fluid milk consumption were positively associated with s25(OH)D concentrations, while negative associations were observed with children' energy intake, non-alcoholic beverage consumption, body weight, breastfeeding duration and, biological/adoptive/foster parents' educational level. Conclusion: Vitamin D inadequacy was highly prevalent and closely aligned with levels observed over the years in non-Indigenous children. Breastfed children who do not receive vitamin D supplementation, overweight and obese children, and children with inadequate milk consumption were at high risk of vitamin D insufficiency. Eating vitamin D rich foods such as fluid milk and seafood along with vitamin D supplementation when needed are recommended.

Consumer Food Safety Awareness and Demand for Fluid Milk: A Case Study from India

ABSTRACT: Despite significant improvements in consumers’ food safety awareness, the literature provides little or no evidence of the impact of food safety awareness on the quantity of fluid milk consumers purchased. This is especially true for India’s consumers, where the economy is changing rapidly regarding food marketing, incomes, urbanization, and increased demand for food safety.The study is based on primary data from a survey of consumers from urban and peri-urban districts in India. The survey collected information on socioeconomic characteristics, dairy consumption, purchasing patterns, and food safety awareness. This study first creates a food safety awareness (FSA) index to measure consumers’ awareness of food safety attitudes and perceptions. It investigates the factors affecting consumers’ food safety awareness and FSA’s impact on fluid milk demand. The study uses a newly developed impact evaluation method, continuous treatment matching estimation, and dose-response functions (DRFs) to assess the impact of FSA on consumers’ fluid milk purchases. Findings show that educational attainment, sources of information on food safety, age, and gender of the head of the household significantly influenced consumers’ food safety awareness. Further, the study finds that food safety awareness positively impacts the demand for fluid milk. After controlling for milk prices and family income, Indian consumers aware of and adopt seven or more food safety habits or practices are likely to demand more fluid milk. Results are robust to specifications, income levels, and the location of households. The link between food safety awareness and the quantity of milk purchased implies a latent consumer demand for food safety. Any consumer awareness programs and policies supporting milk and its products’ hygienic production will likely increase demand for milk and dairy products. At a policy level, credible systems can be put in place for food certification and labeling, which enhance the availability of safe and hygienic food.

IN THIS ISSUE: Small is beautiful, but ...

First paragraphs: On the cover of our spring 2023 issue (volume 12, issue 3), Samantha and Chris Kemnah enjoy a moment with their cows on Clover Bliss Farm, their 190-acre farm in South Argyle, New York. You can read more about the Kemnahs in a 2018 article in the Hill Country Observer by Tracy Frisch entitled “An escape route from dairy farming’s crisis?” Alas, the economic pressure Frisch referred to five years ago has remained for small dairy farmers—and particularly for small organic dairy farms. Since that article was written, the consumption of fluid milk has continued to decline even as organic milk has flooded into the limited market. In 2021, Danone North America (owner of the Horizon Milk brand) cancelled contracts with dozens of small organic dairy farms in the Northeast U.S., triggering an economic crisis and calling into question Danone’s certified B Corporation status. Observers have wondered, how could a company that promotes itself as farm-friendly not offer a more engaging and deliberative process in making such a consequential business decision? But this case triggers an even larger question: while small may be beautiful, can small and middle-scale also be resilient, even in a triple bottom-line context? . . .

Low-cost, on-farm intervention to reduce spores in bulk tank raw milk benefits producers, processors, and consumers

Bacterial spores, which are found in raw milk, can survive harsh processing conditions encountered in dairy manufacturing, including pasteurization and drying. Low-spore raw milk is desirable for dairy industry stakeholders, especially those who want to extend the shelf life of their product, expand their distribution channels, or reduce product spoilage. A recent previous study showed that an on-farm intervention that included washing towels with chlorine bleach and drying them completely, as well as training milking parlor employees to focus on teat end cleaning, significantly reduced spore levels in bulk tank raw milk. As a follow up to that previous study, here we calculate the costs associated with that previously described intervention as ranging from $9.49 to $13.35 per cow per year, depending on farm size. A Monte Carlo model was used to predict the shelf life of high temperature, short time fluid milk processed from raw milk before and after this low-cost intervention was applied, based on experimental data collected in a previous study. The model predicted that 18.24% of half-gallon containers of fluid milk processed from raw milk receiving no spore intervention would exceed the pasteurized milk ordinance limit of 20,000 cfu/mL by 17 d after pasteurization, while only 16.99% of containers processed from raw milk receiving the spore intervention would reach this level 17 d after pasteurization (a reduction of 1.25 percentage points and a 6.85% reduction). Finally, a survey of consumer milk use was conducted to determine how many consumers regularly consume fluid milk near or past the date printed on the package (i.e., code date), which revealed that over 50% of fluid milk consumers surveyed continue to consume fluid milk after this date, indicating that a considerable proportion of consumers are exposed to fluid milk that is likely to have high levels spore-forming bacterial growth and possibly associated quality defects (e.g., flavor or odor defects). This further highlights the importance of reducing spore levels in raw milk to extend pasteurized fluid milk shelf life and thereby reducing the risk of adverse consumer experiences. Processors who are interested in extending fluid milk shelf life by controlling the levels of spores in the raw milk supply should consider incentivizing low-spore raw milk through premium payments to producers.

Spatialized Life Cycle Assessment of Fluid Milk Production and Consumption in the United States

Purpose: Understanding the main factors affecting the environmental impacts of milk production and consumption along the value chain is key towards reducing these impacts. This paper aims to present detailed spatialized distributions of impacts associated with milk production and consumption across the United States (U.S.), accounting for locations of both feed and on-farm activities, as well as variations in impact intensity. Using a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approach, focus is given to impacts related to (a) water consumption, (b) eutrophication of marine and freshwater, (c) land use, (d) human toxicity and ecotoxicity, and (e) greenhouse gases. Methods: Drawing on data representing regional agricultural practices, feed production is modelled for 50 states and 18 main watersheds and linked to regions of milk production in a spatialized matrix-based approach to yield milk produced at farm gate. Milk processing, distribution, retail, and consumption are then modelled at a national level, accounting for retail and consumer losses. Custom characterization factors are developed for freshwater and marine eutrophication in the U.S. context. Results and discussion: In the overall life cycle, up to 30% of the impact per kg milk consumed is due to milk losses that occur during the retail and consumption phases (i.e., after production), emphasizing the importance of differentiating between farm gate and consumer estimates. Water scarcity is the impact category with the highest spatial variability. Watersheds in the western part of the U.S. are the dominant contributors to the total water consumed, with 80% of water scarcity impacts driven by only 40% of the total milk production. Freshwater eutrophication also has strong spatial variation, with high persistence of emitted phosphorus in Midwest and Great Lakes area, but high freshwater eutrophication impacts associated with extant phosphorus concentration above 100 µg/L in the California, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi water basins. Overall, normalized impacts of fluid milk consumption represent 0.25% to 0.8% of the annual average impact of a person living in the U.S. As milk at farm gate is used for fluid milk and other dairy products, the production of milk at farm gate represents 0.5% to 3% of this annual impact. Dominant contributions to human health impacts are from fine particulate matter and from climate change, whereas ecosystem impacts of milk are mostly due to land use and water consumption. Conclusion: This study provides a systematic, national perspective on the environmental impacts of milk production and consumption in the United States, showing high spatial variation in inputs, farm practices, and impacts.

Child preferences and perceptions of fluid milk in school meal programs

School meal programs in the United States feed approximately 30 million children each day and account for the majority of child milk intake. Dairy consumption during childhood and adolescence has lasting effects on lifelong health status, so it is important for schools to ensure adequate consumption in this life stage by offering an appealing product. This study identified the intrinsic and extrinsic attributes that influence children's perceptions, attitudes, and consumption of fluid milk at school, especially as they relate to fluid milk packaging. An online choice-based conjoint survey (n = 211) and four 1-h focus groups (n = 31) were conducted with child milk consumers ages 8 to 13 yr to evaluate extrinsic attributes. The survey evaluated milk package attributes including packaging type, front-of-package graphics, package color, and labeled milk fat content. Focus group topics included preferences, usability, health, taste of fluid milk, and milk consumption habits. To evaluate intrinsic properties related to packaging, 3 varieties of milk (unflavored fat-free, unflavored low-fat, and chocolate-flavored fat-free) were produced and packaged in polyethylene-coated paperboard cartons, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles (all 250 mL). After 10 to 13 d of storage at 4°C under dark conditions, milks were evaluated by descriptive analysis and child acceptance testing (ages 8-13 yr; n = 126, 122, and 126 for each variety, respectively). Extrinsically, package type was the most important attribute to children, but graphics, nutritional labeling, branding, package size, and overall familiarity also drove preferences. The ideal milk packaging build from the conjoint survey was an HDPE bottle with blue-colored packaging and a cow graphic, labeled as low-fat milk. Intrinsically, all varieties of milks packaged in paperboard cartons developed package-specific flavors, including refrigerator/stale and paperboard, after 10 d of storage. These off-flavors were not detected in HDPE- or PET-packaged milks. For unflavored milks, child consumers preferred the flavor of PET- or HDPE-packaged milks over cartons, regardless of milk fat content, but preferences were not distinct for chocolate-flavored milk. The results of this study demonstrate that children's liking and preference for milk are driven by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors and suggest that improvements are needed to increase acceptance of milk currently served in school meal programs.

The influence of automatic associations on preference for milk type

In recent decades, organic milk has been an exception to the trend of decreased fluid milk consumption in the United States. However, the reasons behind consumer preference for organic milk over conventional and other milk types are ill-defined. The objective of this study was to use an implicit association test (IAT) and primed and unprimed preference testing to determine if fluid milk consumer preferences for milk types are influenced by implicit biases and, if so, to define these biases within the context of the consumer sensory experience. Self-reported fluid milk consumers (n = 473) participated in online IAT exercises where pairwise comparisons of milk types (conventional, organic, local, pasture-raised) were measured on both positive and negative dimensions related to cow-welfare, sustainability, health, trust, safety, and quality. Latency times from IAT responses were subsequently transformed into standardized D-scores to categorize bias effect sizes. Additionally, fluid milk consumers (n = 174) participated in preference tests that compared commercial milks representing different milk types through presentations where milk type was shown (primed) or hidden (unprimed). Following preference tests, consumers were asked to explain their preferred sample using check-all-that-apply tasks. Analysis of IAT results showed that conventional milk was more associated with negative dimension descriptors compared with organic, local, and pasture-raised milks. Additionally, a positive bias in favor of organic milk was expressed when compared with pasture-raised milk offerings; however, no differences were found in pairwise comparisons of other nonconventional milk type pairings, suggesting that consumers may conflate these designations. Blinded preference testing showed that milk preferences were largely dictated by flavor, with consumers differentiating milk types based upon flavors related to packaging, pasteurization method, and feeding systems. In primed evaluations, consumers generally expressed preferences that aligned with their explicit beliefs, and flavor considerations appeared to be a secondary differentiator of preference. Based on these results, conventional milk is associated with negative implicit beliefs related to production and product quality more often than other milk types, which was reflected in IAT evaluations and primed preference tests. However, the blinded tastings suggested that conventional milk was preferred, or competitive with, other milk types based on flavor alone. Findings from this study suggest consumer differentiation and preference of milks is significantly affected by perceptions and beliefs related to milk type. In particular, conventional milk was associated with relatively few unique belief descriptions, indicating strict utilitarian consumer categorization. Organic and local milks were comparatively associated with greater care for nutrition, sustainability, animal welfare, and local farm support. These results demonstrate a need for greater education related to conventional milk offerings to dispel factors influencing negative implicit bias. Furthermore, improving product narrative via label information and alignment with locality and regionality were identified as possible opportunities for improving consumer sentiments related to conventional milk. A more thorough understanding of these attributes may reinforce stated beliefs more effectively and stave off consumer losses to plant-based alternatives that fulfill similar beliefs.

Analysing the consumer preference of fluid milk in province no. 2 of Nepal

Information is an asset for any industry. Some information such as the consumer preference is hidden deep in the mind of the consumer which is difficult to access. Studies have revealed that the consumer preferences can be measured effectively and their research may provide a deeper understanding of the choices that consumers make when deciding to select an offer against another. Milk is one of the major components of diet for the people around the globe. The demand for milk and other dairy products is generally income elastic. The marketing of fluid milk is not similar as compared to other consumer-based goods. The demand for milk and milk products depend considerably on the consumption pattern, food habits, geographical region, urbanization and life style. The study was conducted to analyse the consumer preference of fluid milk in Province no. 2 of Nepal. Rautahat and Saptari districts from Province no. 2 were selected for the study. The total sample size of 180 household was selected for study but data from 159 households was only taken for consideration. Consumer preference was analysed using tabular and percentage analysis. Garret’s ranking technique was adopted to analyse the reason for preference of fluid milk by household consumer. From the study it was clear that almost all the households irrespective of the income and other socio-economic factors, preferred fluid milk. Nutritive value was found to be the most important reason for preference of fluid milk. The other reason for preference of fluid milk were taste, quality, availability, price and satisfaction. The consumption of fluid milk was found to be dependent over several socio- economic factors such as education, income, gender etc. The differences in consumption behaviour of the consumers provide an important inference to marketing and promotion strategies of dairy/ food products. Different promotion strategies based on different consumption determinants are perhaps necessary for effective marketing in a specific area.

Validation of fluid milk consumer segments using qualitative multivariate analysis

Consumption of fluid milk in the United States has declined in recent years. To increase appeal and meet ever-changing consumer demands, several product features have been introduced to the fluid milk market. As such, it is imperative to assess consumer sentiments from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives to better understand the effect of various product offerings. The objectives of this study were to identify fluid milk consumer segments that were characterized by preference for specific product features and to verify those sentiments using qualitative multivariate analysis (QMA). An adaptive choice-based conjoint survey (n = 719) was designed to explore consumer desires regarding the fat content, package type, shelf life, label claims, and prices of commercial milks. Part-worth utilities from the conjoint task were subsequently clustered, revealing 4 unique consumer segments. Representative consumers from each cluster (n = 18 total) were selected to participate in a 4-wk QMA study, consisting of a home-usage test followed by focus groups and projective mapping. Nine commercial milks representing various pasteurization methods, label claims, and packaging types were used within the study. When analyzed by segment, significant differences in conjoint utilities for specific product features were identified. Overall, price was the largest differentiator of segments, followed by fat content, shelf life, and milk designation. Several of the segmental differences were confirmed in the QMA study, with sentiments regarding price and milk type (i.e., conventional, organic, local) consistent between conjoint survey and QMA for each consumer group. Within the projective mapping exercise, intrinsic sensory properties, price, and quality perception were the primary differentiators for fluid milks. Comments from QMA journal entries and focus groups revealed that consumer segments with preferences for nonconventional milk types were primarily motivated by the belief that organic, local, or pasture-raised milks were superior in sensory quality and congruent with personal values. Overall, QMA was an effective means for verifying conjoint-derived consumer groups and provided a contextual support for conjoint insights. Joint conclusions drawn from the components of this study may serve to guide marketing campaigns and new product development for fluid milk processors.

Impact of changing income distribution on fluid milk consumption in urban China

PurposeChina has experienced a fast economic growth and shown a significant rise in income inequality in the past decades. During the same period, fluid milk consumption in urban areas has rapidly expanded. The objective of this paper is to analyze and simulate the influence of income distribution changes on fluid milk consumption of households in urban China.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies an inverse hyperbolic sine (IHS) double-hurdle model to modeling at-home fluid milk consumption of households across different income strata based on a sample of 11,861 urban households in five provinces in China, and simulating the impact of changing income distribution, including five income growth patterns, on fluid milk consumption of total households as well as specific household groups.FindingsThe fluid milk consumption in urban China will continue to increase, with the unconditional income elasticity being 0.334 for the full sample and 0.347, 0.335 and 0.162 for the low-, middle-, and high-income groups, respectively. The simulation results show an evidence that, compared with distribution-neutral and disparity-enlarging income growth patterns, a rising income equality would lead to a more significant increase in fluid milk consumption. And the inequality-reducing income growth pattern has a larger impact on fluid milk consumption of households with seniors and no children, as well as households having no local urban household registration (hukou).Practical implicationsThe government should strengthen the supply measures of fluid milk in urban areas, enlarge domestic dairy production, and diversify the sources of milk imports. It is also necessary to subsidize low-income families, especially households with seniors or households migrated from other areas without getting local urban hukou, which could simultaneously improve nutritional benefits and alleviate financial pressures.Originality/valueA simulation considering the evolution of income distribution as well as different household groups is conducted. Widely distributed data with a large sample size and detailed demographic information are used. The problems of zero consumption and non-normal distribution are addressed by the IHS double-hurdle model.

Consumer desires and perceptions of lactose-free milk

Fluid milk consumption has declined in the United States, but lactose-free dairy milk (LFM) sales have steadily increased. It is important to understand how consumers perceive LFM and what consumers value when purchasing LFM. This study characterized consumer perceptions and preferences for LFM. Three 1.5-h focus groups (n = 25), an online survey (n = 331), trained panel descriptive analysis, and a consumer acceptance taste test (n = 160) were conducted with LFM consumers. Focus groups were evaluated by frequency of responses. From the focus group findings, we found that price was a primary choice driver of LFM. Habit and flavor familiarity with cow milk were a major driver of selection of LFM over plant-based alternatives for consumers. Higher sweetness and lower viscosity were the primary sensory differences between LFM and traditional milk, and were viewed negatively in general. The online survey included Kano questions, maximum difference scaling, and an adaptive choice-based conjoint. The data gathered from these techniques provided insight into the perceptions and purchase habits of consumers. Kano data demonstrated consumer attitudes toward the presence or absence of product attributes. The maximum difference scaling scaled the importance of product attributes to consumers. An adaptive choice-based conjoint provided insight into consumer purchase habits by simulating a purchase decision through an online interface. The attributes evaluated included price, packaging material, package size, lactose removal method, shelf life, sweetness, texture, nutrition claims, and label claims. Survey responses were analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistics. Survey results quantitatively confirmed many focus group observations. Price, texture, sweetness, shelf life, and package size were the most important attributes to LFM consumers. A low price, ultrapasteurized LFM in a half-gallon cardboard package was the ideal LFM. Descriptive analysis of 9 commercial LFM followed by consumer acceptance testing was conducted. External preference mapping was conducted with trained panel and consumer acceptance results. Consumer acceptance testing of commercial LFM revealed 3 consumer clusters with distinct preferences for LFM flavor and texture. High sweet taste was a driver of liking for the overall population, and eggy flavor and viscosity were drivers of disliking. Knowledge of consumer preferences for LFM will provide actionable insights for new product development within the dairy industry for this market segment.

A segmentation of Swiss fluid milk consumers and suggestions for target product concepts

The objective of this study was to understand the priorities and motives of Swiss consumers when choosing and buying fluid milk and to provide evidence-based recommendations for the development of target product concepts and category adaptations. Data were collected through a postal survey sent to a randomly selected sample of German-speaking Swiss residents, yielding a final sample size of n = 712 (39% response rate). Hierarchical cluster analysis disclosed the presence of 3 distinct consumer segments: the uncompromising consumers (24%), who have high and numerous expectations; the locavores (56%), who ensure that they consume primarily milk of local origin; and the indifferent consumers (20%), who have modest expectations, especially in taste, origin, and production conditions. The market review revealed that none of the 7 largest market players offered the right product mix to match the needs of its effective or targeted consumers. Overall, the current offer is too broad and untargeted. A large share of the offer lacks sufficient differentiation; furthermore, available added-value concepts often do not combine the right product attributes. Based on these results, 5 product concepts were elaborated. Two products were designed for the uncompromising consumers: a protein-enhanced, semi-skimmed (1.5%) milk and a fair milk (fair price paid to the milk producers); a twin concept was designed for the locavores: a 100% local pasteurized milk available in both conventional and organic quality; and one product was designed for the indifferent consumers: an all-purpose, long-life, part-skimmed (2.5%) milk. By including the product concepts dedicated to their targeted consumers' segments and downsizing their assortment depth, retailers could optimize their sales per square foot.

Branded vs Unbranded Fluid Milk Consumption: Determinants of Urban Household Choices in Mymensingh City

Branded vs Unbranded Fluid Milk Consumption: Determinants of Urban Household Choices in Mymensingh City

Association of Lactase Persistence Genotypes (rs4988235) and Ethnicity with Dairy Intake in a Healthy U.S. Population.

Lactase persistence (LP) is a trait in which lactose can be digested throughout adulthood, while lactase non-persistence (LNP) can cause lactose intolerance and influence dairy consumption. One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP ID: rs4988235) is often used as a predictor for dairy intake, since it is responsible for LP in people in European descent, and can occur in other ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to determine whether rs4988235 genotypes and ethnicity influence reported dairy consumption in the United States (U.S.). A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and multiple Automated Self-Administered 24-h recalls (ASA24®) were used to measure habitual and recent intake, respectively, of total dairy, cheese, cow’s milk, plant-based alternative milk, and yogurt in a multi-ethnic U.S. cohort genotyped for rs4988235. Within Caucasian subjects, LP individuals reported consuming more recent total dairy and habitual total cow’s milk intake. For subjects of all ethnicities, LP individuals consumed more cheese (FFQ p = 0.043, ASA24 p = 0.012) and recent total dairy (ASA24 p = 0.005). For both dietary assessments, Caucasians consumed more cheese than all non-Caucasians (FFQ p = 0.036, ASA24 p = 0.002) independent of genotype, as well as more recent intake of yogurt (ASA24 p = 0.042). LP subjects consumed more total cow’s milk than LNP, but only when accounting for whether subjects were Caucasian or not (FFQ p = 0.015). Fluid milk and alternative plant-based milk consumption were not associated with genotypes or ethnicity. Our results show that both LP genotype and ethnicity influence the intake of some dairy products in a multi-ethnic U.S. cohort, but the ability of rs4988235 genotypes to predict intake may depend on ethnic background, the specific dairy product, and whether intake is reported on a habitual or recent basis. Therefore, ethnicity and the dietary assessment method should also be considered when determining the suitability of rs4988235 as a proxy for dairy intake.

Modeling American Household Fluid Milk Consumption and their Resulting Greenhouse Gas Emissions

U.S. consumers are the largest contributors to food waste generation (FWG), but few models have explained how households waste food. This study examines how discrete-event simulation (DES) can identify areas for reducing FWG through packaging and consumer milk consumption behavioral changes. Household model parameters included: amount and type of consumption, type and number of containers bought, buying behavior, and shelf life of milk. Simulations comparing the purchase of quart, half gallon, and gallon milk containers were run for 10,000 days to identify which package type reduced waste for 50 1, 2 and 4-person households. Based on consumption averages from the U.S. National Dairy Council, results suggest that if 1 and 4-person households change their purchasing behavior from 1 half-gallon to 1 quart and 2 gallons to 3 half-gallons, they can reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from milk consumption by 33% and 12%, respectively, without reducing their total milk consumption. Purchasing enough smaller containers to be equivalent to a larger size decreased spoilage, but not enough to reduce a consumer’s total milk consumption GHG emissions. Results showed that packaging accounts for 5% of the total milk consumption GHG emissions; most of a consumer’s impact comes from milk spoilage and consumption.

Traditional attributes moo-ve over for some consumer segments: Relative ranking of fluid milk attributes

Due to the decrease in fluid milk consumption as a beverage in the United States, the importance for dairy industry stakeholders to understand attribute preferences for consumer segments has increased. This paper uses a representative sample of U.S. residents to determine shopping behavior and a Best-Worst experimental design to examine consumer preferences for select milk attributes. The Random Parameters Logit model revealed the largest preference shares were for price (19.1%), fat content (17.6%), and humane handling (16.1%). Segmentation of the respondents was analyzed using a Latent Class Model, and the demographics of segments were analyzed by probabilistic assignment. This contribution, which may be applied to other products, allows for a detailed understanding of consumer preferences for fluid milk. Demographics such as gender and age were not statistically different across the five classes for this topic, unlike shopping behavior. Class 2 was named “The Balancing Act” due to respondents’ balance between animal welfare aspects and the physical characteristics of milk. Class 5 was dubbed “Value and Volume” due to large preference shares for price and container size. A lower percentage of respondents in “The Balancing Act” (12.2%) reported purchasing fat-free skim milk when compared to the percentage of respondents in “Value and Volume” (18.6%). Due to the large preference shares for traditional milk attributes, Class 3 was named “Traditional Milk Shoppers.” A higher percentage of respondents in “Value and Volume” also reported always reading the information on meat, egg, or milk products when compared to “Traditional Milk Shoppers” (12.2%). Although price is still important to many consumers, certain segments have preferences or demand for other attributes that may be satisfied by producers to increase market share or price premiums.

Recent Trends in Unpasteurized Fluid Milk Outbreaks, Legalization, and Consumption in the United States.

Introduction: Determining the potential risk of foodborne illness has become critical for informing policy decisions, due to the increasing availability and popularity of unpasteurized (raw) milk.Methods: Trends in foodborne illnesses reported to the Centers for Disease Control in the United States from 2005 to 2016 were analyzed, with comparison to state legal status and to consumption, as estimated by licensing records.Results: The rate of unpasteurized milk-associated outbreaks has been declining since 2010, despite increasing legal distribution. Controlling for growth in population and consumption, the outbreak rate has effectively decreased by 74% since 2005.Discussion: Studies of the role of on-farm food safety programs to promote the further reduction of unpasteurized milk outbreaks should be initiated, to investigate the efficacy of such risk management tools.

Identification and characterization of fluid milk consumer groups

Consumption of fluid milk has steadily declined over the last few decades. Understanding the attributes of fluid milk products that are attractive to specific consumer groups may provide a sound basis for education and marketing to encourage increased dairy consumption and reverse the downward trend. The objective of this study was to identify the attributes of fluid milk that specific consumer groups find attractive and attributes that suggest a higher purchase likelihood. An adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) survey was designed to assess attributes of fluid milk. The ACBC survey included Kano, importance, labeling identification, and beliefs questions to determine the key attributes that dictated consumer purchase and consumption. Self-reported purchase habits and attitudes for organic food products were also collected. Attributes in the ACBC exercise included fat content, package type, shelf life, and label claims. Maximum difference scaling was used to rank the importance of attributes in fluid milk that affected purchase. Maximum difference scaling was also used to rank qualities and issues associated with organic milk that were most motivating for those who identified as organic milk consumers. Results were analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistics. A total of 1,163 fluid milk consumers completed the survey, and of those, 434 were regular purchasers of organic milk. The ideal fluid milk from conjoint analysis was 2% milkfat, organic, packaged in a plastic jug, conventionally pasteurized, and contained no additives or label claims. The belief that "organic milk is healthier" was the most important motivator for purchases of organic milk, followed by the beliefs that "organic milk production encourages ethical treatment of animals" and "organic milk production supports local farms and farmers." Conjoint importance scores of all fluid milk consumers showed that milkfat content was the most important attribute, followed by flavor, package size, and price. For all milk consumers, designation as organic was ranked as the 8th most important of 14 attributes. Evaluation of these results on both aggregate and individual levels suggest that fluid milk consumers are not a homogeneous consumer group and that underlying consumer groups are led to purchase decisions by specific product features or expectations.

A 100-Year Review: The production of fluid (market) milk

During the first 100 years of the Journal of Dairy Science, dairy foods and dairy production dairy scientists have partnered to publish new data and research results that have fostered the development of new knowledge. This knowledge has been the underpinning of both the commercial development of the fluid milk processing industry and regulations and marketing policies for the benefit of dairy farmers, processors, and consumers. During the first 50 years, most of the focus was on producing and delivering high-quality raw milk to factories and improving the shelf life of pasteurized fluid milk. During the second 50 years, raw milk quality was further improved through the use of milk quality payment incentives. Due to changing demographics and lifestyle, whole fluid milk consumption declined and processing technologies were developed to increase the range of fluid milk products (skim and low-fat milks, flavored milks, lactose-reduced milk, long-shelf-life milks, and milks with higher protein and calcium contents) offered to the consumer. In addition, technology to produce specialty high-protein sports beverages was developed, which expanded the milk-based beverage offerings to the consumer.