Studies of Heated Milk. II. Acetol and Related Compounds

Abstract

The study demonstrated the presence of acetol and acetic acid in autoclaved condensed skim milk. The results of adequate control expts. precluded that these compounds are present in significant amts. in unheated milk. Presumptive but not conclusive evidence that acetaldehyde is formed during the heating of milk was also obtained. The relationship of acetol to methylglyoxal and certain other compounds known to be present in heated milk is discussed. A wide variety of carbonyl compounds mostly unidentified, were observed to be formed during the prolonged heat treatment of milk.