EU regulations introduced nearly 10 years ago about the use of 1% milk is still causing confusion, according to the Food Standards Agency. The Drinking Milk Regulations (1998) state that milk must fall within fat-content bands for whole (above 2%), semi-skimmed (1.5% to 1.8%) and skimmed (0.5%). But the FSA said talks with the industry revealed some manufacturers didn't know they could use 1% milk, which falls between the bands, in manufactured goods. "We've clarified the situation for manufacturers," said Rosemary Hignett, the FSA's head of nutrition. "This will result in 1% milk being used in place of higher-fat milk ingredients."

Topics