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Milk Home Page > Homogenized Milk > What Is Homogenization? > Last updated on: 4/8/2008 8:39:00 AM PST

What Is Homogenization?

General Reference (not clearly pro or con)

Dairy Farming Today, an organization that provides information about dairy production, provided the following
information about homogenization in its article "Farm to Fridge" published on its website (accessed Dec. 10, 2007):

"Homogenization is a process that gives milk its rich, white color and smooth texture. Milk that has not been
homogenized contains a layer of cream that rises to the top of a glass.

Before the homogenization process was used, milk was shaken or mixed to achieve consistency in its look and taste.
The homogenization process involves reducing the size of the fat globules into miniscule portions that are dispersed
evenly throughout the milk. Homogenization usually is achieved by pumping milk through small openings under very
high pressure."

Dec. 10, 2007 - Dairy Farming Today

Douglas Goff, PhD, Professor of Dairy Science and Technology Education at the University of Guelph, Canada, wrote
in a 1995 article titled "Homogenization of Milk and Milk Products," posted on the Dairy Science and Technology
website:

"Milk is an oil-in-water emulsion, with the fat globules dispersed in a continuous skim milk phase. If raw milk were left to
stand, however, the fat would rise and form a cream layer. Homogenization is a mechanical treatment of the fat
globules in milk brought about by passing milk under high pressure through a tiny orifice, which results in a decrease in
the average diameter and an increase in number and surface area, of the fat globules. The net result, from a practical
view, is a much reduced tendency for creaming of fat globules."

1995 - H. Douglas Goff, PhD

Raw Milk Facts, a website advocating raw milk consumption, wrote in an article titled "Homogenization: A Closer Look"
(accessed Dec. 10, 2007):

"Homogenization today is usually a two step process. The first stage…pushes milk through small, tapered tubes or
pores. As the diameter shrinks and the flow of milk remains constant, pressure builds up and fat globules break apart
in the turbulence.

The higher the pressure, the smaller the particles. How much pressure? Typically 2,000-3,000 pounds per square inch
(psi), although some super homogenizers work at over 1000 times atmospheric pressure- 14,500psi and higher!

You can jam milk through pretty small holes with force like that. Before homogenization, fat globules range in size from
1-10 microns (a micron = ~0.00004 inch). After, the size range is reduced to 0.2-2 microns.

As the much smaller fat globules begin to reassemble, they include fragments of whey and casein in their walls. Some
are completely surrounded by a layer of protein. The tendency is for these new, chemically altered globules to clump
together. Stage two of the homogenization process breaks up this unwanted assembly and makes sure everything
stays in solution."

Dec. 10, 2007 - Raw-milk-facts.com

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