Skimmed Milk Powder

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Skimmed milk powder is a shelf-stable dairy ingredient produced by removing water and virtually all fat from pasteurized skim milk; it retains the protein, calcium, and lactose of milk in concentrated form. It is widely used as a functional and nutritional ingredient in baked goods, confectionery, infant formula, soups, sauces, and recombined dairy products.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Skimmed milk powder has a well-established history of safe consumption across all age groups and carries GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status in the United States; no Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been set because it is a whole-food dairy ingredient rather than a chemical additive. The principal safety concerns are cow's milk protein allergy (to casein and whey) and lactose intolerance, both of which can cause clinically significant adverse reactions. Regulatory contaminant controls are in place globally, including a maximum Aflatoxin M1 limit of 6 µg/kg for skimmed milk powder under Indian FSSAI regulations.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Quality standards and official analytical methods for skimmed milk powder are established in Commission Regulation (EC) No 273/2008. Use in infant and follow-on formula is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/127. EFSA has confirmed the nutritional safety of skimmed cow's milk-derived protein sources for infant formula.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Regulated under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, Chapter 2.1 – Dairy Products and Analogues. Under FSS (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, skimmed milk powder may only be sold under a Bureau of Indian Standards (ISI/BIS) Certification Mark. Maximum Aflatoxin M1 limit is 6 µg/kg per FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Regulated as a standardized food under 21 CFR 131.125 (Nonfat dry milk) and 21 CFR 131.127 (Nonfat dry milk fortified with vitamins A and D). Milk and milk-derived products have a long history of safe use recognized by FDA; no pre-market additive approval required.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Lactose Intolerance — Skimmed milk powder retains substantially all the lactose of skim milk; individuals with lactose intolerance may experience significant gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea upon consumption.

Other — Individuals with cow's milk protein allergy (IgE-mediated sensitivity to casein or whey proteins) must avoid skimmed milk powder, as it retains all native milk proteins and can trigger reactions ranging from urticaria to anaphylaxis; FDA GRAS documentation and EFSA opinions consistently note this exclusion.

Infants — Unmodified skimmed milk powder is not recommended as a sole nutritional source for infants under 12 months due to an elevated renal solute load and protein concentration; use in infant formula requires specific formulation to meet standards such as FDA 21 CFR 107 or FSSAI Infant Nutrition Regulations with mandatory BIS certification.

Kidney Disease — Skimmed milk powder is relatively high in protein, phosphorus, and potassium; individuals with chronic kidney disease may need to limit intake on medical advice to avoid exacerbating renal solute load and hyperphosphataemia.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Part 131.125 – Nonfat Dry Milk. accessdata.fda.gov
2EFSA. Nutritional safety and suitability of a specific protein hydrolysate derived from sources of skimmed cow's milk and whey protein concentrates used in infant and follow-on formula, 2025. efsa.europa.eu
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations – Chapter 2.1 Dairy Products and Analogues (Version 1, 01.09.2023), 2023. fssai.gov.in
4FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations – Version X (03.04.2023), 2023. fssai.gov.in
5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations – Version VI (27.01.2022), 2022. fssai.gov.in

Independently researched5 citations