Is it true people buy milk in bags in India

A.� Almost all milk is sold in India is tough plastic bags, and 32.5 per cent of milk sold in Switzerland is packaged in the same way. The bags- made from tough plastic - are 'greener' than milk bottles, see-through plastic square bottles and waxed cartons.

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Q.� WIll they be introduced in the UK

A.� Britain's biggest dairy company, Unigate Dairy Crest, is planning to sell milk by the bag-full. It will be delivering bags of milk in hygienic two-pint pouches to doorsteps and supermarkets in an eight-week trial in the south-west soon. Each packet will include two pouches of either whole or skimmed milk. Customers will buy a re-useable plastic jug which is kept in the fridge and can be carried to the table for cereal or drinks. The jugs are being sold for between �1 and �1.50 each, depending on individual pricing policy. The idea is that one pouch is placed inside the jug. A corner can then be snipped off and the jug can be taken from the fridge as and when it is needed.

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Q.� What's wrong with cartons

A.� The bags' makers claim they are much more hygienic than the cardboard cartons knowns as Tetrapaks,� which created a fortune for their British inventors. The Tetrapaks have to be constantly opened and closed, creating the risk of spreading germs. The new bags are easier to freeze than bottles or cartons, which have the tendency to burst as the liquid cools and expands.

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Q.� Where were the bags invented

A.� The packaging was pioneered in Canada more than 30 years ago and now accounts for more than half - 56 per cent - of all milk sold there. It is also popular in other countries, especially in warmer climes where milk goes off more quickly.

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Q.� How much will the new bag cost

A.� During the trial, the milk will sell for 91p for four pints - 2p less than the plastic bottle equivalent.

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By Katharine MacColl