not only of undergraduate and equivalent students, but of the new graduate entering industry and facing new and potentially frightening situations. To this end, the book is structured to meet the requirements both ofthe student, with a basic knowledge ofchemistry, biochemistry and microbiology and of persons working in the dairy industry. The basic approach isto discuss the manufacturingprocess in thecontextof technology and its related chemistry and microbiology, followed by a more fundamental appraisal of the underlying science. The dairy industry is defined in a broad context and information is included on imitationproducts and analogues. Anumber ofinnovations have been adopted in the presentation ofthe book. Information boxes and • points are used to place the text in a wider scientific and commercial context, and exercises are included in most chapters to encourage the reader to apply the knowledge gained from the book to unfamiliar situations. It is also our firm beliefthat the control of food manufacturing processes should be considered as an integral partofthe technology and for this reason control points, based on the HACCPsystem, are includedwhere appropriate. A note on using the book EXERCISES Exercises are not intended to be treated like an examination question. Indeed in many cases there is no single correct, or incorrect, answer.

Milk is nature’s most complete food, and dairy products are considered to be the most nutritious foods of all. The traditional view of the role of milk has been greatly expanded in recent years beyond the horizon of nutritional subsistence of infants: it is now recognized to be more than a source of nutrients for the healthy growth of children and nourishment of adult humans. Alongside its major proteins (casein and whey), milk contains biologically active compounds, which have important physiological and biochemical functions and significant impacts upon human metabolism, nutrition and health. Many of these compounds have been proven to have beneficial effects on human nutrition and health. This comprehensive reference is the first to address such a wide range of topics related to milk production and human health, including: mammary secretion, production, sanitation, quality standards and chemistry, as well as nutrition, milk allergies, lactose intolerance, and the bioactive and therapeutic compounds found in milk. In addition to cow’s milk, the book also covers the milk of non-bovine dairy species which is of economic importance around the world. The Editors have assembled a team of internationally renowned experts to contribute to this exhaustive volume which will be essential reading for dairy scientists, nutritionists, food scientists, allergy specialists and health professionals.