MONOSACCHARIDES AND MYOINOSITOL IN COMMERCIAL MILKS

Monosaccharides (galactose, glucose, tagatose, 3-deoxypentulose, N-ace tylglucosamine, and N-acetylgalactosamine) and myo-inositol were deter mined by gas chromatography in different types of market milk. (pasteu rized, dried, UHT, and in-container sterilized). Glucose, myo-inositol , and N-acetylhexosamine concentrations were similar to those previous ly found in raw milk and showed no variations due to sample type. Ster ilized milk samples were characterized by the presence of tagatose and 3-deoxypentulose and, thus, could be clearly distinguished from UHT s amples. The galactose level, which was found to be higher in the sampl es submitted to stronger thermal treatment, seems to be also a useful indicator for milk classification.