Sun Milk: Trans-Fat Free Milk
A reader sent me a tip about SunMilk, I checked it out and thought you readers of Eating Fabulous may also be interested. SunMilk is real milk, minus the fat, plus sunflower oil. The result: all the goodness in milk, trans-fat free. From Amanda’s email:
Why do different kinds of fats matter? Current USDA dietary guidelines recommend that Americans reduce consumption of “bad” saturated fats (which can raise cholesterol levels, leading to problems with obesity and heart attack), and increase consumption of “good” unsaturated fats, (which can help lower cholesterol). The very same guidelines also instruct Americans to double their milk consumption from 1.3 to 3 servings of low fat or fat free milk per day, but surveys show that 70% of US milk drinkers prefer 2% or whole milk over blue, watery fat free milk. Realizing that three glasses of 2% milk have the same saturated fat as an oversized cheeseburger really makes you think twice about pouring that milk on your morning cereal. SunMilk, on the other hand, provides a healthy alternative to traditional dairy milk because it has no saturated fat and it tastes great because unsaturated fat is blended back into the milk, giving it the rich, creamy taste we’re all used to (it’s hormone-free too!).
I can’t personally vouch for the taste, as I haven’t tried it, but here’s a review of someone who has.
Now I wonder when will they come up with milk containing conjugated linoleic acid-rich safflower oil instead.
I thought only hydrogenated fats had trans fats? Milk
is just saturated fat. I’m confused, please enlighten!
Hi jen, you are right, there are no trans fats in milk. In this milk they are removing the good fats to put some 70% of polyunsaturated fats.
The polyunsaturated fats are so unstable that the heat produced while extracting the oil is enough to turn them rancid. Then it is treated to remove the foul smell and dark color.
And this milk is ultra-pasteurized, which also kills the rest of that was once good in it.
If I was you, I would also do some research about saturated fats. They are not unealthy like people say. Please try googling these words: saturated fats truth
Cheers!
Jen and Drew: According to Wikipedia:
“Trans fats of a particular class occur naturally in the milk and body fat of ruminants (such as cows and sheep) at a level of 2-5% of total fat.[4] Natural trans fats, which include conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid, originate in the rumen of these animals.”
Hi Ruth, thanks for the quote from wikipedia! It was an interesting read. But I think that there was an information missing from the quote you posted. Here is the complete paragraph:
“Trans fats of a particular class occur naturally in the milk and body fat of ruminants (such as cows and sheep) at a level of 2-5% of total fat.[4] Natural trans fats, which include conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid, originate in the rumen of these animals. Unlike synthetic trans fats, these trans fats have not been demonstrated to be harmful.”
Please note the last sentence saying that the natural trans fats has not been demonstrated to be harmful. This product is a nice PR stunt.
I’m inclined to agree with you on that, Drew.
I’m still trying to figure out what makes these trans-fats different from other abhored trans-fats found in other foods.
I understand your concern! I have the same. I also read that these natural trans fats are found in any ruminant fat.
I think I found something interesting about trans fats. You can find it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat in the chemistry part.
What we call trans fat is not really a type of fat, it’s more a way to name a precise configuration of the atoms in the fat. The fats are short or long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The atoms can be arranged in many different ways that our body know how to deal with or not. The conclusion I make is that obviously our body prefers what occurs naturally in the food and not what is in man-made stuff.
naturally occuring trans fats (like the ones found in dairy; CLA is also a trans fat) haven’t shown to be that that bad for you, it’s more the industrial trans fats found in margarine or doughnuts or other delicious things that have the harmful effects on cholesterol and cardiovascular health
Yeah, I agree this is a PR stunt for a product. Also a little bad PR too. Sunflower oil is not that healthy for you – there is a very high ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 in it. Something like 20:1. This ends up raising your cholesterol if you are not careful. A diet with a 3:1 ratio is generally best.
Now, if they’ve used flaxseed oil that has a high Omega-3 content, then this would be a healthy choice. But not with sunflower oil.
Where can I get sun milk? The markets in our area can’t seem to keep it in stock and Abertsons is the only one who will try anymore.
My zip is 92117 is there any sun milk in this Zip?
This is a very good product. I like the taste a lot (hate the taste of skim milk). It is getting harder to find in my area of So Calif however.
I cannot find it anywhere. I live in so cal as well….. have you had any luck lately?
I live in so cal as well. Have you had any luck finding this product lately?
I love Sun Milk but my local Von’s doesn’t seem to be carrying it anymore. Does anybody know where it’s available in the Inland Empire?
I bought it last week at an Albertson’s in Downey.
I really like Sun Milk. Until recently, Albertsons and Vons were carrying it in San Diego, but no more. Anyone know who carries it in San Diego? Anyone know who manufactures it and/or distributes it? Will appreciate some help.
Leo
I was told today that Albertson’s has discontinued Sun Milk. Von’s has as well. I don’t understand, because I think it’s the BEST! I’m in the San Diego area, so if anyone knows where to get it, please let me know.
this is the best milk ive ever had
if it was lower priced then i would buy it all the time
Oour local Vons quit carrying it too!!!!! We would love to know where can buy it~Our family had been drinking it for a year!!!!! We REALLY miss it!!!!!!! We are in Ventura County~anyone know where we can find it????? Thanks!!!! It is so awesome and we love the taste!!!!!
I was so very disappointed to find both Vons and Albertsons have discontinued Sun Milk. It is truly a superior product and I’m concerned this may be a trend to prevent average people from having access to excellent products that challenge larger more established industry by higher standards. Something’s fishy here!
I’m going to limit my purchasing from these stores until they return Sun Milk to the shelves. How about you?
Where can find it?
The albersons by my house stopped stocking sun milk. Which stores still have it in Southern California
Update 5/28/2009: To all SunMilk lovers, unfortunately it looks like SunMilk has been discontinued. It appears the company has went under due to mismanagement, and the recent economic woes was probably the nail to the coffin. If you know more about this, feel free to give everyone else an update via the comment section. Thanks!
That’s a bummer. I loved the stuff. They obviously did a horible job of marketing, because if more people would have tried it sales would have surly gone up. Too bad. Now I don’t know what to use.
SunMilk, please come back!!!
I loved this stuff. I was told by Vons they decided not to carry it any longer but now the blog states the company went under. That’s a shame….