CONDENSED MILK DEFECTS 197 



additional conditions that are not controlled by the factors 

 causing gritty milk. 



Effect of Density on Sugar Sediment. One of the chief of 

 these conditions is the density of the condensed milk. The thin- 

 ner the condensed milk, the greater the difference between the 

 specific gravity of the liquid portion and that of the sugar crys- 

 tals; therefore, the more readily will the crystals sink to the 

 bottom. The viscosity of thin condensed milk, also, is less than 

 that of thick milk, offering less resistance to the force of gravity 

 of the crystals. In the manufacture of sweetened condensed 

 milk that has the proper density, about 2.5 to 2.8 parts of fresh 

 milk are condensed into one part of condensed milk. If the 

 evaporation is stopped sooner, so that the ratio is much less than 

 2.5 to 1, the condensed milk is usually too thin to hold its sugar 

 crystals in suspension. 



Effect of Fat Content on Sugar Sediment. The per cent, of 

 fat in milk, also, influences the specific gravity of the condensed 

 milk, and therefore, has some effect on the settling of the sugar 

 crystals, although to a relatively slight degree. Nevertheless, 

 sweetened condensed skimmed milk will settle less readily than 

 sweetened condensed whole milk. 



Effect of Cane Sugar Content on Sugar Sediment. The per 

 cent, of cane sugar materially influences the specific gravity and 

 viscosity of the condensed milk. Milk with a high per cent, of 

 sucrose is heavier, more viscous and drops its sugar crystals 

 less rapidly than milk with a low per cent, of sucrose. 



Turning the Cans to Prevent Sugar Sediment. Concerns 

 who have been continually troubled with settled milk often 

 resort to the practice of turning their cases daily, or at other 

 regular intervals. This keeps the precipitated crystals in mo- 

 tion, but it does not prevent the settling entirely. Moreover, 

 milk destined to settle, as the result of defects in the process, 

 cannot be prevented from dropping its crystals after it leaves 

 the factory. Some concerns have stooped to printing on their 

 labels statements similar to the following: "A sediment in 

 the bottom of this can indicates that this condensed milk is 

 absolutely pure and free from harmful ingredients." Advice of 



