The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has published a draft national standard outlining specifications for whey milk drinks intended for direct human consumption. The proposed standard establishes requirements for composition, safety, hygiene, contaminants, sampling, and labeling to ensure the quality and safety of whey-based beverages produced or marketed in Tanzania.
The draft standard, titled “Whey Milk Drink — Specification,” has been developed under the supervision of the Agriculture and Food Divisional Standards Committee, which includes representatives from several national institutions such as the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Tanzania Industry Research and Development Organization, and the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority.
The draft standard defines whey milk drink as a beverage derived from whey milk, a by-product obtained during the manufacture of cheese, casein, or similar dairy products after separation of curd from milk following coagulation. The product is considered a convenient ready-to-drink protein beverage with beneficial nutritional properties.
Raw Materials and Composition
The standard specifies that whey milk drinks may be produced using:
Whey milk
Sugar
Water
The draft also establishes compositional limits for the product:The fat content must range between 0.05% and 0.2%, while the solid non-fat (SNF) content must be maintained between 7.5% and 8.5%. The protein content is required to fall within the range of 2.7% to 3.5%, and the pH level of the product must be maintained between 4.1 and 4.5. These parameters are established to maintain the nutritional profile, stability, and safety of whey milk drink intended for human consumption. Microbiological Safety
The proposed standard sets microbiological limits to protect consumer safety. Whey milk drinks must meet the following requirements:
Escherichia coli: Absent
Salmonella spp.: Absent in 25 g
Staphylococcus aureus: Absent
Yeasts and moulds: Maximum 10² CFU/g
Contaminants and Residues
The draft also establishes limits for contaminants. Pesticide residues and veterinary drug residues must comply with limits set by the Codex Alimentarius database. Heavy metal contamination is restricted, with lead limited to a maximum of 0.02 mg/kg. Additionally, aflatoxin M1 must not exceed 0.50 µg/kg.