Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Dehydrated milk powder specifications: moisture content must remain below 4--5% to inhibit Maillard browning, microbial growth, and lipid oxidation during storage.
Key Formula or Approach:
\[ \text{Maximum Permissible Moisture in WMP / SMP (FSSAI/BIS)} \le 4.0\% - 5.0\% \]
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In dairy technology and powder manufacturing (FSSAI and BIS standards for Whole Milk Powder [WMP] and Skim Milk Powder [SMP]):
- Dehydrated spray-dried milk powder is engineered for long shelf-life by removing free and bound water.
- Standard regulatory specifications mandate that milk powder must contain a maximum moisture content of not more than 4% to 5% moisture (standard accepted limit is $5\%$ moisture).
- Moisture $> 5\%$ triggers lactose crystallization (caking), accelerated non-enzymatic Maillard browning, and oxidative staling.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, milk powder should contain 5% moisture, matching option (B).