90 days old imported sterilized milk and domestic milk coming in 3 days... You have to take into account the quality of the difference in freshness
Mar 21, 2025
|
According to the survey of 1,000 men and women between the ages of 14 and 69 across the country, 37.3% of those who have experienced drinking imported sterile milk (50.5%) responded that 'the safety is suspected because the consumption period is too long.' In addition, 27.6% answered 'not fresh compared to domestic milk', indicating high confidence in domestic milk. This shows that consumers tend to prefer domestic milk and dairy products considering 'freshness' and 'safety' as important.
According to the "2024 Food Consumption Behavior and Food Policy" conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Research Institute in December last year, consumer evaluation of food safety in Korea is rising steadily every year to 80.9 out of 100. In other words, it suggests that the reliability and safety of domestic food are further improving.
Recently, the consumption of imported sterilized milk with price competitiveness and convenience of storage is increasing, but an important fact that should not be overlooked is the intrinsic value of milk, 'fresh'. Consumers still choose 'Freshness' as the number one information they check first when purchasing milk.
If so, consumers can't help but wonder what the freshness of domestic milk will be different from imported sterilized milk.
First of all, milk produced in Korea is quickly cooled after milking and distributed within two to three days after sterilization and homogenization treatment without external exposure. In particular, the entire process from ranch-produced milk to milk collection, sterilization, inspection, and distribution sales is thoroughly managed by applying the refrigerated distribution system 'Coldchain', so consumers can feel the freshness of freshly squeezed milk as it is. In addition, the shelf life is short to 11 to 14 days, so freshness management is essential.
In fact, milk is classified as a food classification system classified according to the food processing stage, a Nova system classified as a 'minimum processed or natural food', which is a representative fresh food group in the food processing group.
Imported sterilized milk usually has a very long shelf life of one year, and it takes at least a month for the finished product to enter Korea. In other words, it takes about three months from production to reaching consumers' hands, so freshness cannot be expected.
In fact, according to a survey of the remaining expiration dates of five imported sterilized milk (1L) sold online (Naver and various social commerce) in Korea (Mlecovita, God Milk, Milkisma, Olden Burger, and Australias), most of them were three to four months old after manufacturing, and Olden Burger was selling products that were five months old on average after manufacturing. In the case of Mlecovita, products that were at least two months old (about nine weeks) and in the case of Australias, three months and three weeks were being distributed in the market.
This freshness of domestic milk is directly related to quality. The quality of crude oil, which is the raw material of milk, is determined by the number of body cells and bacteria, both of which can be said to be of higher quality with lower levels. According to the results of crude oil tests in the first half of 2024 announced by the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Quarantine Headquarters, the ratio of the number of somatic cells is 71.88%. This is an increase of 0.75% points (p) compared to the previous year, which is 71.13% in 2023. The ratio of the number of bacteria in the first grade was 99.62%.
In addition, according to the crude oil hygiene rating standards announced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of bacteria must meet less than 30,000 per 1 ml and the number of body cells less than 200,000. This is the same level as Denmark, a developed dairy country, and follows stricter standards than other advanced foreign dairy countries.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
