Is it ok to give my toddler UHT milk instead of chilled milk?

Last updated 17/01/2024

Like chilled milk, UHT milk (also known as long life milk) has a number of essential nutrients needed for a toddler’s growth and development, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, zinc, vitamins A and B12, magnesium, carbohydrate and protein.

UHT milk stands for ultra-heat treatment and like the name suggests, the milk has been heated to 140°C for two seconds and then packaged hygienically, which destroys any harmful bacteria and micro-organisms and also extends the shelf. As a comparison, when chilled milk goes through the pasteurisation process, it is heated to 72°C for no less than fifteen seconds and then cooled immediately. When compared with fresh chilled milk, UHT milk has slightly lower levels of thiamine, vitamins B12 and B6 and folate, but UHT milk is still an excellent dairy food for toddlers.

UHT milk is available in full-fat, reduced-fat, low-fat, modified and skim, however toddlers up until the age of two years should only drink full-fat milk as the extra calories (or kilojoules) in full-fat milk help with healthy growth and development.

Long life milk can be stored for up to six months in the pantry, but once opened it needs to be refrigerated and used like regular chilled milk.