What is the difference between reduced fat milk and low-fat milk?
In the US, reduced-fat milk is sold as 2% milk and low-fat milk as 1% milk, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. USDA FoodData Central lists about 1.98 g fat per 100 g for 2% milk and 0.97 g for 1% milk. On labels, "reduced fat" means at least 25 percent less fat than a reference food, and "low fat" means 3 g or less per reference serving.
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In this article
Reduced fat milk vs low-fat milk: the short version
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service lists fluid milk as fat-free (skim), low-fat (1%), reduced-fat (2%) and whole. So reduced-fat milk has more fat than low-fat milk.
How much fat and how many calories?
Numbers below are from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, milk with added vitamins A and D). Per cup (244 g) values are our calculation from the per 100 g values.
| Milk | Fat per 100 g | Calories per 100 g | Per cup (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole, 3.25% | 3.25 g | 61 | about 149 kcal, 7.9 g fat |
| Reduced fat, 2% | 1.98 g | 50 | about 122 kcal, 4.8 g fat |
| Low-fat, 1% | 0.97 g | 42 | about 102 kcal, 2.4 g fat |
| Fat-free | 0.08 g | 34 | about 83 kcal (245 g cup), 0.2 g fat |
Protein and carbohydrate barely change: about 3.2 to 3.4 g protein and 4.8 to 5.0 g carbohydrate per 100 g in all four.
What do the label terms mean?
Under FDA rules (21 CFR 101.62), a food labeled “reduced fat” must have at least 25 percent less fat per reference amount than an appropriate reference food. “Low fat” means 3 g or less of fat per reference amount. These are claims about a product compared with a reference, which is why the words differ from the 2% and 1% names.
What we did not find
We did not open a current federal page that states the exact milkfat percentage in the standard for each milk name, so the 2% and 1% names come from USDA FNS and the fat levels from the USDA database. Other countries use different names (for example semi-skimmed).
People also ask
What is reduced fat milk?
In the US it is 2% milk, per the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. FoodData Central lists about 1.98 g fat per 100 g.
Is low-fat milk the same as reduced fat milk?
No. Low-fat milk is 1% (about 0.97 g fat per 100 g in FoodData Central), reduced-fat is 2% (about 1.98 g).
What does "reduced fat" mean on a label?
FDA requires at least 25 percent less fat per reference amount than an appropriate reference food (21 CFR 101.62).
Sources
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