Butterfat or milkfat is the fatty portion of milk. Milk and cream are often sold according to the amount of butterfat they contain. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. ... A glass of cows milk A goat kid feeding on its mothers milk Milk is the nutrient fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals (including monotremes). ... Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of raw milk before homogenization. ...

Composition

The fatty acids of butterfat are typically composed as follows (by mass fraction):^[1] In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid often with a long unbranched aliphatic tail (chain), which is either saturated or unsaturated. ...

• Saturated fatty acids:
  • Palmitic acid: 31 %
  • Myristic acid: 12 %
  • Stearic acid: 11 %
  • Lower (at most 12 carbon atoms) saturated fatty acids: 11 %
• Unsaturated fatty acids:
  • Oleic acid 24 %
  • Palmitoleic acid 4 %
  • Linoleic acid 3 %
  • Linolenic acid 1 %

Palmitic acid, also called hexadecanoic acid, is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants. ... Myristic acid, also called Tetradecanoic acid, is a common saturated fatty acid found in dairy products. ... Stearic acid, also called octadecanoic acid, is one of the useful types of saturated fatty acids that comes from many animal and vegetable fats and oils. ... Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in various animal and vegetable sources. ... Palmitoleic acid, or (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid, is a monounsaturated fatty acid that is a common constituent of the glycerides of human adipose tissue. ... The chemical strucuture of linoleic acid showing physiological numbering (red) and chemical numbering (blue) conventions. ... Chemical structure of alpha-linolenic acid Linolenic acid is an 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid with three double bonds. ...

U.S. Standards

In the U.S., there are federal standards for butterfat content of dairy products.[1] Commercial products generally contain the minimum legal amount of fat. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Dairy products are generally defined as foodstuffs produced from milk. ...

• Milks
  • skim milk contains less than 0.5% fat, typically 0.1%
  • lowfat milk contains between 0.5-2% fat; 1% and 2% varieties are widely marketed
  • whole milk contains at least 3.25% fat
• Cheeses
  • dry curd and nonfat cottage cheese contain less than 0.5% fat
  • cottage cheese contains at least 4% fat
  • lowfat cottage cheese contains 0.5-2% fat
  • cheddar cheese contains at least 50% fat relative to the total solids
  • Swiss cheese contains at least 43% fat relative to the total solids
• Frozen desserts
  • ice cream contains at least 10% fat
  • lowfat ice cream, also called ice milk, contains not more than 2.6% fat
  • sherbet contains 1-2% fat

• Creams
  • half and half contains 10.5-18% fat
  • light cream and sour cream contain 18-30% fat
  • light whipping cream (often called simply "whipping cream") contains 30-36% fat
  • heavy cream contains a minimum of 36% fat
  • manufacturer's cream (not federally regulated) contains 40% fat
• Butter (including whipped butter) contains at least 80% fat

A glass of cows milk A goat kid feeding on its mothers milk Milk is the nutrient fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals (including monotremes). ... Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... A tub of cottage cheese Cottage cheese is a cheese curd product with a mild flavor. ... Country of origin England Region, town Somerset, Cheddar Source of milk Cows Pasteurized Frequently Texture hard/semi-hard Aging time 3-30 months depending on variety Certification No Cheddar cheese is a pale yellow, sharp-tasting cheese originally made in the English village of Cheddar, in Somerset. ... Cubes of Swiss cheese For related uses of the word swiss cheese please see Swiss cheese (disambiguation) This article is about a variety of cheese known as Swiss cheese in some areas. ... A selection of desserts Dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a dinner, usually consisting of sweet food but sometimes of a strongly-flavored one, such as some cheeses. ... Missing image Ice cream is often served on a stick Boxes of ice cream are often found in stores in a display freezer. ... Ice milk is a frozen dessert with less than 10% milk fat and the same sweetener content as ice cream. ... Sherbet (in American English) is a frozen dessert made from iced sweetened fruit juice or puree. ... Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of raw milk before homogenization. ... Half and half refers to a dairy product, an alcoholic beverage, a soft drink, or a curry supplement. ... It has been suggested that Pavlaka be merged into this article or section. ... Butter is commonly sold in sticks (pictured) or blocks, and frequently served with the use of a butter knife. ...

References

1. ^ National Research Council, 1976, Fat Content and Composition of Animal Products, Printing and Publishing Office, National Academy of Science, Washington, D.C., ISBN 0-309-02440-4; p. 203, online edition