Comparative Quality Study of Selected Full Cream Powder Milk Available in Bangladesh

Abstract

Powder milk has high food value, good keeping quality, low microbial contamination and also available in the local market. An experiment was carried out to measure the physical, chemical and microbiological qualities of different brands (Milk Vita, Dano, Anchor, Diploma and Starship) of full cream powder milk available in the market of Bangladesh. Regarding physical tests (flavour, taste, appearance and specific gravity), no significant differences were found in the experimental samples. However, significant differences regarding colour and odour were found among the experimental brands. In chemical tests (fat, solids-non-fat, total solids, protein, lactose, ash, acidity and moisture content), the most important factor acidity % of the experimental selected brands viz. Milk Vita, Dano, Anchor, Diploma and Starship were 1.04±0.008, 1.07±0.010, 1.00±0.007, 1.09±0.005 and 1.10±0.004 respectively. The fat % were 26.36±0.125, 25.56±0.375, 26.125±0.250, 26.125±0.250 and 26.00±0.0479 respectively. The protein % were 26.87±0.050, 26.65±0.289, 26.25±0.096, 26.41±0.250 and 26.93±0.289 respectively. The ash % were 5.90±0.285, 6.15±0.058, 5.95±0.850, 6.00±0.69 and 6.13±0.082 respectively. The moisture % were 2.76±0.096, 3.69±0.263, 2.97±0.096, 3.88±0.096 and 3.93±0.096 respectively. The lactose % were 38.00±0.521, 38.50±0.310, 38.18±0.208, 38.23±0.316 and 37.03±0.035 respectively. The solid-non-fat % were 71.00±0.252, 71.30±0.137, 70.38±0.452, 69.64±0.330 and 71.09±0.283 respectively. The total solids % were 97.36±0.36, 96.86±0.536, 96.51±0.287, 95.77±0.096 and 97.09±0.085 respectively. There was no significance differences among fat, solids-non-fat, total solids, protein, lactose, ash, acidity and moisture content of the experimental samples. The average value of the experimental results of different parameters were within the acceptable range. The total viable bacteria counts were 400±75.65, 500±58.75, 500±57.79, 300±81.65 and 500±50.00 respectively and were within normal range. The differences were not statistically significant. The coliform bacteria count was nil. From the experimental results, it was observed that the quality of full cream powder milk of Milk Vita, Dano, Anchor, Diploma and Starship were within the acceptable range. Further study regarding quality control of other available powder milk in the market would be worthy to investigate.