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

1% and 2% refers to the amount of whole milk fat in the mixture.

The fat will rise to the top of fresh milk and can be skimmed (skim milk) off for use in other products like butter or heavy cream.

You can then add back some whole milk to the skimmed milk

Whole milk is around 4%…..so really the only thing missing is 3% (and all the fractions).  Like anything else there isn’t a good cost effective reason to produce every possible different blend