Why don't they use Milk?

[Cocobeau]

I'm always curious when I visit other countries why they don't seem to have the obsession with milk that we have in the UK? In some countries I've visited it's been nearly impossible to find any fresh milk even in large supermarkets, just UHT. Other places you can find fresh milk, but very limited in small sections. I've certainly never seen anything like the entire fridges dedicated to the various milk types we have in the UK (maybe except for NZ). So why do we feel such a strong need for fresh milk and not the rest of the world? What do they use instead? Do they just give their kids water once they've come off breast/infant milk?

I can't see keeping milk cold being a challenge in most of Russia TBH

not in winter. But in summer on the central asian steppe it is regualrly 30+ degrees

It takes a long marketing campaign to convince adult humans they need to drink bovine lactation to be healthy. Ours began around 1950. It didn't reach Asia for a long time, only in the last ten years.

I’m was pretty sure than Asian countries are more likely to drink buffalo milk. Camel milk is prevalent in nomadic communities in areas such as Somalia and Kenya. We also have sheep and goat milk at home.

Part of the reason that we drink other animals milk is because we are the only species who are able to milk another animal (and have been doing for around 6,000 years).

we are a nation of tea drinkers

@MrsLargeEmbodied

we are a nation of tea drinkers

so are many other nations.

But not all of them drink milk in their tea.

Milk for adults is quite an odd concept when you think about it! It is definitely part of some cultures more than others. In a lot of south east Asia for example they think it’s quite odd. But dairy is a big thing here.

@mrziggycoco

It takes a long marketing campaign to convince adult humans they need to drink bovine lactation to be healthy. Ours began around 1950. It didn't reach Asia for a long time, only in the last ten years.

Yep

I hardly ever consume milk - I have black tea and coffee and no other milky drinks. When I lived alone, I used to keep 'Coffee Mate' for any visitors.

I agree it is an odd concept. And pretty gross. Cultures are just different aren't they? Plus the ability to farm 'effectively' as others have said.

Well I’ve seen many more types of milk in the US, Australia, Germany and quite a lot of Northern Europe.

A lot of nations/cultures think cow’s milk isn’t that great for humans. Apparently the Japaneses think we smell of rancid cow’s milk. It’s arguably not great for human digestion and it’s difficult to keep fresh in some climates.

Your whole post is odd. Why would you assume other countries or cultures should be like Britain? Or that we’re a model for anywhere else?

Plenty of oat milks etc on the market that taste much better too

Trouble is that they also contain avenin, which for some of us superlucky celiacs means we can't have it either. And there are only four specific brands of oat milk in the UK that even make oat milk that isn't intrinsically contaminated with gluten. There have been a number of recalls on products after they've been reported by multiple people to trigger symptoms, even of so called Gluten Free foods. Essentially, there's an awful lot of stuff that you can't really trust.

But milk from a cow/goat/sheep? That's gluten free. Get lactofree and even if your intestinal epithelial cells have been buggered by the insistence upon putting fucking wheat into fucking everything, you can have milk safely. And lots of other dairy products that are inherently low in lactose, like cheese or fermented products. Doesn't allow for those with a cow's milk protein allergy, but they don't tend to have celiac, whereas the lactose intolerance is very common as a direct result of celiac.

I don't like the taste of any non-dairy milk I've tried. Oat milk tastes like porridge water.

Do they just give their kids water once they've come off breast/infant milk?

I find this such a bizarre thing that some people think! I didn't like milk as a child, I was weaned and never had a glass of milk again I don't think. Ditto my own kids. I like milk now, but so long as weaned babies are getting calcium from somewhere drinking milk is really not necessary.

Milk for adults is quite an odd concept when you think about it! as is cows milk for babies.

@godmum56 thank you, I remember now. I knew it was something bad and that timing fits in with all the limitations on baby formula sales.

you could fill pools with milk options in canada and the usa...

@elbea

I’m was pretty sure than Asian countries are more likely to drink buffalo milk. Camel milk is prevalent in nomadic communities in areas such as Somalia and Kenya. We also have sheep and goat milk at home.

Part of the reason that we drink other animals milk is because we are the only species who are able to milk another animal (and have been doing for around 6,000 years).

There are mentions of milk (sheep or goat) and cheese in Homer’s Odyssey, which is thought to have been composed at least 1000 years BC. The one-eyed giant who fancied having Odysseus’ mates for dinner was busy with his pails of milk to turn into cheese.

@ExMachinaDeus

Well I’ve seen many more types of milk in the US, Australia, Germany and quite a lot of Northern Europe.

A lot of nations/cultures think cow’s milk isn’t that great for humans. Apparently the Japaneses think we smell of rancid cow’s milk. It’s arguably not great for human digestion and it’s difficult to keep fresh in some climates.

Your whole post is odd. Why would you assume other countries or cultures should be like Britain? Or that we’re a model for anywhere else?

Your whole post is odd. I've made no assumption that any country should be like Britain. I simply asked a question about something I've noticed on my travels to SOME countries and I referred to it as our obsession, which is not something most people would consider to be a way of saying I think we're a model for the rest of the world to follow.

I don't think it's that odd for me to consider why something we use so widely in this country is not used in the same way in some other countries.
Always someone on this site looking to make more of a simple question.

@ChiefWiggumsBoy

Do they just give their kids water once they've come off breast/infant milk?

I find this such a bizarre thing that some people think! I didn't like milk as a child, I was weaned and never had a glass of milk again I don't think. Ditto my own kids. I like milk now, but so long as weaned babies are getting calcium from somewhere drinking milk is really not necessary.

Milk for adults is quite an odd concept when you think about it! as is cows milk for babies.

Cow's or another mammal's milk for babies who can't be breastfed is/was a lifesaver, if hygiene precautions around storage, bottles etc are observed.

When I was at primary school in UK we were provided with a third of a pint of milk in the morning, per child in a small glass bottle. I believe that this was stopped by Margaret Thatcher.

We also had milk delivered at home by the milk man too

Me too. Too warm in summer, sometimes partially frozen in the winter, as it was just dumped down somewhere until break time, not refrigerated. Maggie Thatcher, Milk Snatcher, did indeed do away with free milk.

A friend lives in Majorca and suffers as he hates UHT. He says, there are no dairy farms around to produces the amounts, the heat means storing fresh milk is more difficult and therefore UHT is shipped from the mainland. I assume the same is for the Canaries and other hot islands like Greece.

If you get fresh milk, it is often different from ours here in the UK, called "longer life" fresh milk which is pasteurised at a higher temperature and has a longer shelf life in the fridge. Germany also jumped on the wagon, it does taste different though but still better than UHT.

If I am on holiday I don't really care, two weeks without milk is not a big thing. DD was two the first time we went to Majorca and just got dairy via lots and lots of yoghurt.

Do Indian's drink milk? Ghee is a huge part of Indian cuisine and there is paneer and lassis but I have no idea about milk itself. Are processed dairy products generally used due to it (mostly) having a hot climate?

Yes, Indians do (at least Indians in India do unless they’re very strict Jains or vegans). Most school children are expected to drink 1-2 glasses of milk a day. Milk is still delivered in many parts. Yoghurt is also an integral part of most Indians’ diets (with variations in different cuisines).

Yuck! I've never noticed this when travelling. Which countries are you referring to?

Yes Indians definitely do, huge milk lovers! Although I think it's water buffalo milk, not cows milk