While the U.S. per-capital consumption of whole milk continued to decline significantly between 1968 and 2008, the demand for 1% lowfat and skim milk “has grown drastically,” the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reports .
During the 1980s, 2% reduced milk fat was catching up in popularity with whole milk. But over the last 20 years, consumers have preferred 1% lowfat and skim milk, CDFA says in the October 2010 issue of its California Dairy Information Bulletin.
Total consumption of fluid milk per person continues its steady decline, from 30 gallons per person per year in 1968 to 19 gallons per person per year in 2008, CDFA notes.
In the U.S., the number of Class 1 bottling plants continues a steady decline, CDFA adds. The fluid milk processing plants of today are, on average, processing more than twice the amount of fluid milk than the bottling plants of 1988.
