Milky May Monday: General Dry Milk Information

Milky May...For May, inasmuch as I am able to post, I plan on focusing on food storage milk products, particularly dry milk.

So how is dry milk made?  Briefly:  milk is gathered from farms, transported to a creamery where it is put into holding tanks that filter the milk which is then tested to meet quality standards.  The milk is then evaporated some (this pasteurizes it) and then the cream is separated from the milk.  It is now skim milk.  The milk is then standardized, meaning it is mixed to have a consistent product--every batch being the same-whether it is whole, 2% or skim milk being made.  The evaporated & condensed milk that is remaining from this process is then standardized, then dried into a powder-by a spraying/drying process.  It is packaged and sold.  (for more in depth information see http://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/powedered_milk_made.htm)