Bet You Didn’t Know This About Your 2% Milk

Milk fat percentages can be misleading.

Q: True or False: “1% Milk” is so-named because it’s 99% fat-free, just as “2% Milk” is 98% fat-free, right?

A: Both statements are actually false.

If you didn’t know that, you certainly aren’t alone. After all, most other products with a “percentage feature” are very straightforward with respect to those percentages: 99% fat free, 50% less sugar, etc.

Milk fat percentages are actually based on the fat proportion of the milk by weight, not by volume or any other measure. Whole milk, from which no fat has been removed, is from about 3.25%-4.00% fat by weight.

So that 2% milk is really only about 50% fat-reduced versus whole milk, while the 1% milk is about 75% fat-reduced.

Ask your friends and family about the milk they drink and see how many know the truth about milk fat percentages!