Fatty acid content of retail milk – What’s in it for the consumer?

The fatty acid (FA) composition and content of whole milk (3.25% fat) from organic, omega-3 (n-3) FA fortified, and conventional retail brands available in the northeastern U.S. were assessed monthly via gas chromatography. Among the retail labels, organic milk stood out as it contained a distinct and more healthful FA profile, consistently comprised of a higher content of unique bioactive FA (short-chain FA, odd- and branched-chain FA, vaccenic acid, and conjugated linoleic acids) per serving, particularly during the warm season. The total content of saturated FA did not differ by retail label. While organic and n-3 fortified milk contained a similar content of total n-3 FA, the proportion of individual n-3 FA differed significantly (organic milk: 18:3 n-3; n-3 fortified milk: 20:6 n-3) as a result of the production system and process, respectively. Overall, per serving, the FA profile of organic milk may provide added nutritional and health benefits