SWEETENED CONDENSED MiLK DEFECTS 237 
Buttons in Sweetened Condensed Milk.—Buttons, as known 
to the condensed milk manufacturer, represent a type of lumps, 
different from those previously described. Buttons are lumps 
of curd of a firm and cheesy consistency. They usually float on 
top of the condensed milk in the can or barrel. They are suff- 
ciently frm units so they can be readily removed and washed 
free from the condensed milk. They are of varying sizes, 
depending on the age of the condensed milk and the temperature 
at which it was stored. The older the milk and the higher the 
Fig. 81. 
Typical buttons of different sizes—All signs of mold have disappeared 
Courtesy of L. A. Rogers, U. S. Dairy Division 
storage temperature, the larger the buttons. Most of the but- 
tons are about one half inch in diameter but frequently they 
are of sufficient size to cover the entire surface of milk in the can. 
These buttons have a whitish-brown to yellowish or reddish- 
brown appearance. They appear in old sweetened condensed 
milk more frequently than in milk that has been in storage for a 
short time only. They are entirely absent in freshly made con- 
