eli5: Why is there 1%, 2%, and whole milk but not any other percentage?

Question

I just feel like its weird how the percentage goes from 1-2% to whole.

Also, what do these percentages even mean? How can you turn milk into 1% or 2% milk?

In: Other

Answer 1

The percentage is the fat content of the milk. Whole milk is 4% fat. Anything higher than that would be thick like a milkshake. 100% would just a solid brick of lard