Laura228's Profile

Read labels and avoid MPC in your food!

"Though some would like to call this stuff just plain milk, the fact is that MPC is what is left over when the higher quality substances in milk have been extracted for other, higher quality products. MPC is sold in a powdered form (but is NOT powdered milk – which made from actual milk) and is considered to be a dairy waste product.

Unregulated and untested for safety, this cheap alternative to real milk is not approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and is not on the GRAS (generally regarded as safe) list. MPC is usually imported from other countries where food regulations are less stringent, and is often imported as a chemical or pharmaceutical product rather than a food product. xiii

Although it is technically illegal to use this waste product in food items, Kraft has been doing a booming business thanks to MPC, importing over 52,000 metric tons of the substance in 2000. MPC is on the ingredient lists of processed cheeses and frozen desserts as well as less obvious foods such as high protein sports drinks, energy bars, and nutritional supplements. As dairy processors buy more and more MPC from overseas rather than real milk from the USA, dairy farmers are finding themselves with a surplus of dry milk (which is made from real milk and should be used in place of MPC)."

From Sustainable Table