# Is 2% milk cheaper? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623 "2002-05-24T05:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/1 "2002-05-24T05:27:59Z")
Virtually every fast food joint serves reduced fat milk. I know, because of the nature of these businesses, that it’s not my health that drives them to do it, so. Why? Must be cost, I figure. Does anyone know for sure? And if so, why isn’t the 2% stuff cheaper in the market? I know, because that’s what I use at home. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/2 "2002-05-24T05:44:34Z")
I don’t know where you shop, but 2% is cheaper than whole milk at the places I buy milk. The main technique for making the milk lower in fat content is to dilute it with water. So you don’t need to milk as many cows to get the same number of gallons to market. That makes it cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/3 "2002-05-24T06:10:06Z")
Raley’s. I check prices to be sure next time I shop. I thought dairies seperated most of the fat from all milk, then added back to a specifies level. For consistancy, or so I thought. I’ll look. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/4 "2002-05-24T06:17:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > \*\*The main technique for making the milk lower in fat content is to dilute it with water. So you don’t need to milk as many cows to get the same number of gallons to market. That makes it cheaper. \*\* Ummm not quite. You don’t get skim milk by adding water to whole milk. [Centrifuges and separators](http://www.thomasregister.com/olc/tetrapak/sepdairy.htm) are used to produce milks of varying butterfat content. Although adding water is part of the production process, it is applied before the varying grades are separated. The cost of a dairy product is usually related to its butterfat content. That’s why premium ice cream is more expensive than inferior alternatives. Whole milk is more expensive than skim milk, although not by much because the fat content differs by only a tiny bit. There are Dairy Compacts throughout the country that interfere with the market, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/5 "2002-05-24T06:18:52Z")
2% is about a dime cheaper per litre than whole milk around here, though the price difference is higher with smaller quantities. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/6 "2002-05-24T06:20:35Z")
Sure. And then if you go to prison for selling watered milk, you can save a whole lot on rent. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/7 "2002-05-24T06:30:11Z")
So I guess my assumption is correct. Some of these places sell _ultra_ pasteurized milk. Gah! Expiration date: Sometime in the next century, I think. 😉 Same reason, I’m sure. BTW, **Saltire** , I thought the EMP was pretty cool. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-2-milk-cheaper/110623/8 "2002-05-24T08:09:29Z")
You notice that only whole milk is labelled ‘Grade A’? That grade is set by butterfat content - only whole milk qualifies. And, from discussion with folks who were raised on dairy farms, THEY add water to reduce the fat content to min. level - don’t know what tricks the dairies use. As far as law - if you tried to pass off low-fat as ‘Grade A’, then, you might be in trouble… and for oxymoron, “No-Fat Milk” - I don’t WANT to know what is in that stuff.