New standards introduced for sterilized milk

China has officially banned the use of reconstituted milk in the production of sterilized milk under the latest revision of its national food safety standards, aiming to enhance dairy product quality and support the development of the domestic dairy industry.

The revision, among 50 new standards and nine amendments issued concerning national food safety, will take effect on Sept 19.

The updated standards, jointly issued by the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, stipulate that "only raw milk" can be used as the base ingredient for sterilized milk, and the use of "reconstituted milk" is prohibited.

Reconstituted milk, also known as recombined milk, refers to a milk emulsion made by mixing dry dairy products with water in specific proportions.

"Put simply, it's just milk powder mixed with water," said an expert from the Institute of Animal Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, whose team proposed the revision.

Sterilized milk, a key product in China's liquid milk market, will now be subject to stricter standards. The expert noted that the revisions align with both industry demands and consumer expectations for higher-quality dairy products.

The ban on reconstituted milk is also expected to drive up demand for raw milk, further supporting the growth of China's dairy farming sector and increasing the incomes of dairy farmers. Since sterilized milk will be made directly from raw milk — naturally rich in bioactive nutrients — it is expected the move will improve both the nutritional value and taste of the final product.

In addition, product labeling must now accurately reflect the new standard. Labels may only indicate "pure cow milk" or "pure goat milk "and must not include any reference to reconstituted milk.

China's raw milk industry has seen significant improvements in recent years. Currently, around 80 percent of dairy cows are raised on large-scale farms, with 99 percent receiving total mixed rations and 100 percent milked using mechanized systems, which have contributed to improved safety and the quality of raw milk.

Internationally, most developed countries and major organizations also prohibit the use of reconstituted milk in sterilized milk production, according to CAAS's Institute of Animal Sciences.

The European Union, Japan, Singapore, the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations require sterilized milk to be made exclusively from raw milk.

In the United States, reconstituted milk may only be used for sterilized milk production in regions with limited milk supply.

In Brazil, its use is allowed only under special circumstances such as milk shortages caused by drought.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn