Milk bottle top
Encyclopedia
Milk bottle
Milk bottles are bottles used for milk. They may be reusable glass bottles used mainly for doorstep delivery of fresh milk by milkmen. Customers are expected to rinse the empty bottles and leave on the doorstep for collection...
. They are usually colour-coded to show the consumer the different varieties of milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, especially the flavour or fat content
Fat content of milk
The fat content of milk is the proportion of milk, by weight,made up by butterfat. The fat content, particularly of cow's milk, is modified to make a variety of products...
. This colour-coding tends to vary between, but is usually consistent within, countries.
AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(these are all screw top plastic lids)
- Blue top - Regular milk
- Purple top - Reduced Fat milk
- Light blue top - Low Fat milk
- Pink top - Skim milk
- Gold Top - UnhomogenizedHomogenization (chemistry)Homogenization or homogenisation is any of several processes used to make a chemical mixture the same throughout.-Definition:Homogenization is intensive blending of mutually related substances or groups of mutually related substances to form a constant of different insoluble phases to obtain a...
- Green Top - Light milk
(flavoured milks)
- Pink - strawberry
- Light Brown - coffee
- Dark Brown - chocolate
BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
These are used almost only for premium pasteurized milk. UHT packaging colours varies by brand.
- Blue top - Regular (whole) milk
- Red top - Semi-skimmed milk
- Yellow top - Skim milk
CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Labelling colours vary from dairy bottlers:- Blue top - Skim milk or 2% milk
- Purple top - 1% milk
- Pink top - 2% milk
- Green top - 1% milk
- Red top - 3.8% or homogenized milk
- White - chocolate milk
- Yellow top - Homogenized milkHomogenization (chemistry)Homogenization or homogenisation is any of several processes used to make a chemical mixture the same throughout.-Definition:Homogenization is intensive blending of mutually related substances or groups of mutually related substances to form a constant of different insoluble phases to obtain a...
or skim milk - Brown - Chocolate milkChocolate milkChocolate milk is a sweetened, usually cold, cocoa-flavored milk drink. It is created when chocolate syrup is mixed with milk . It can be purchased pre-mixed or made at home with either cocoa powder and a sweetener , or with melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, or chocolate milk mix...
People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
- Blue top - Whole Milk
- Red - Reduced Fat
- Dark Green - Low Fat
- Light Green - Skim
Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
- Dark Green top - Whole Milk
- Red top - Reduced Fat
- Yellow top - Skim Milk
Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
- Silver top - 3.5g fat and 110mg Calcium
- Green top - hi-calcium with 2.0g fat and 165mg of Calcium
- Gold top - slim milk with 2g fat and 160mg calcium or milk full cream with milk re-added
DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
- Purple - Skim milk
- Light blue - 2% milk
- Dark Green - Whole milk
- Light Green - Unpasteurized
- Butterscotch - Half and Half
FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
- Red - whole milk (3.5% fat)
- Dark blue - normal milk (1.5% fat)
- Blue - light milk (1% fat)
- Light blue - fat free milk
GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Lavender top - Skim milk
- Light blue top - 1% milk
- Dark Blue top - 2% milk
- Green top - Whole Milk
- Light Green top -ButtermilkButtermilkButtermilk refers to a number of dairy drinks. Originally, buttermilk was the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream. It also refers to a range of fermented milk drinks, common in warm climates where unrefrigerated fresh milk otherwise sours quickly...
- Brown top - Chocolate MilkChocolate milkChocolate milk is a sweetened, usually cold, cocoa-flavored milk drink. It is created when chocolate syrup is mixed with milk . It can be purchased pre-mixed or made at home with either cocoa powder and a sweetener , or with melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, or chocolate milk mix...
IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
- Red top - KefirKefirKefir is a fermented milk drink that originated with shepherds of the North Caucasus region, who discovered that fresh milk carried in leather pouches would occasionally ferment into an effervescent beverage...
- Blue top - Whole milk
- Light blue top - 2% milk
- Green top - 1% milk
- Light green - Skim milk
Milk bags
- Red spout - Whole milk
- Green Spout- 2% milk
- Blue spout - Skim milk
Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
- Blue top - whole milk
- Red top - 2% milk
- Green top - 1% milk
- Pink top - Skim Milk
- White top - creamer
MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
- Yellow top - Whole Milk
- Green top - 2% milk
- Blue top - 1% milk
- Red top - Skim milk
NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
- Pink top - Whole milk
- Yellow top - 2% milk
- Green top - 1% milk
- Blue top - Skim milk
New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
- Silver/Grey top - full fat milk - not homogenized
- Blue top - Full fat
- Light blue top -lite semi skimmed - 1.5% fat
- Dark green top - trim - fully skimmed
- Light green top - trim - Super skimmed
- Yellow top - trim -added calcium
- Orange top - Mega milk, packed with calcuim
- Red top - fresh cream
RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- Green top - Whole Milk
- Blue top - Half Milk
- Red top - Reduced Milk
- Pink top - Low fat
- Yellow top - Skim Milk
Plastic bottles
- Blue top - Whole Milk (3.5% fat content)
- Green top - Semi skimmed Milk (1.7% fat content)
- Red top - Skimmed Milk (0.3% fat content)
Less Common
- Purple top - MorrisonsMorrisonsWm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
own brand, 'The One' brand and WaitroseWaitroseWaitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
own brand (1% fat content) - Gold top (not orange top) - Sainsbury's (1% fat content)
- White top - AsdaAsdaAsda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
milk (5.5% fat content)
Glass bottles
- Gold foilAluminium foilAluminium foil is aluminium prepared in thin metal leaves, with a thickness less than , thinner gauges down to are also commonly used. In the USA, foils are commonly gauged in mils. Standard household foil is typically thick and heavy duty household foil is typically .The foil is pliable, and...
- milk from Channel IslandChannel Island milkChannel Island milk is creamy, light-beige coloured milk originally from the Channel Islands. It comes from the Jersey and Guernsey breeds of cattle which are native to the Islands....
(JerseyJersey cattlePurple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
/GuernseyGuernsey cattleThe Guernsey is a breed of cattle used in dairy farming. It is fawn and white in colour, and is particularly renowned for the rich flavour of its milk, as well as its hardiness and docile disposition.-Milk:...
) breeds (about 5.2% fat) - Silver foil - whole milk (about 4% fat - minimum 3.5%)
- Red foil - HomogenisedHomogenization (chemistry)Homogenization or homogenisation is any of several processes used to make a chemical mixture the same throughout.-Definition:Homogenization is intensive blending of mutually related substances or groups of mutually related substances to form a constant of different insoluble phases to obtain a...
whole milk - Red and silver striped foil - semi-skimmed milk (less than 2% fat)
- Blue and silver checkered foil - skimmed milk (0.1 to 0.3% fat)
- Green foil - raw (unpasteurized)Raw milkRaw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized.-History:Humans consumed raw milk exclusively prior to the industrial revolution and the invention of the pasteurization process in 1864. During the industrial revolution large populations congregated into urban areas detached from the...
milk, giving rise to the name "green-top milk" - Gold striped foil on a green background - unpasteurized milk from Channel Island breeds
Note: Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
often had annual charity campaigns where children would collect aluminium bottle-tops to raise money.
United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Red tops - whole milk.
- Light blue tops - skim milk.
- Blue tops - 2% milk.
- Purple tops - 1% milk.
- Brown tops - chocolate milk.
- Green tops - buttermilk.
- White tops - Unhomogenized milk.
- Black tops - Unpasteurized milk.
Seasonal Speciality
- Strawberry Milk - Mauve - Available year round - colored top
- Pumpkin Spice milk - Yellow-orange top - available from Late September until about November 15.
- Egg Nog - Red Top- Available around Christmas
- Light Egg Nog- Green top- Available a little past New Year, due to its lesser popularity.
- Soy Milk- White Top - Usually in cartons, in a separate section or store