title: Physicochemical characteristics of various milk samples available in Pakistan.
abstract: We report physicochemical characteristics of various kinds of liquid milk commercially available in Pakistan in comparison with those of fresh natural milk from animals. Milk samples were collected from local markets at Peshawar, Pakistan, and analyzed for their physical features, including moisture, total solids, specific gravity, conductivity, viscosity and titratable acidity (lactic acid equivalent), and chemical components and macro-minerals, including total protein, casein, lactose, ash and minerals (Na, K and Mg). These items were compared with the physicochemical characteristics of the fresh natural milk samples from buffalo, cow and goat. The results were also compared with reported nutritional quality of milk from various countries and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. We found that all the physical features and chemical components of commercially available milk in Pakistan markets meet WHO's requirements, except for Na, K, Ca and Mg, which are below the standards.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imran
authors.forename: Hamayun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Syed Shah
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Rasool
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D006041:Goats; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium