Toned milk is a method, developed in India, of treating buffalo milk by adding skim milk, powdered skim milk and water to it. This process decreases the fat content, increases the quantity of available milk, and 'tones up' the non-fat solids level to the original amount. The cost of milk is reduced, making it more widely available and not a luxury purchase.[1][2]
Toned milk is often used in areas where milk production is extremely low or demand is very high compared to the available capacity. In these cases, untreated milk tends to be high in fat, and mechanical removal of the milk-fat would be cost-prohibitive.[2]
Buffalo milk has a fat content of about 7-8%, and contains calcium and a non-fat solids content of 9-10%.[2] By reducing the fat content to 3% through the toning process, the available milk quantity is nearly tripled.[1]