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• Higher LED color temperature is more destructive on freshness of 2% milk. • Yellow pigmented packaging blocks light wavelengths of riboflavin absorbance region. • Higher level of TiO 2 added in packaging results in lower milk oxidation. • Appropriate selection of retail dairy case lighting protects milk quality. Effect of varied LED color temperatures on photo-oxidation in 2% fat milk and protection efficiency of packaging with and without light-protective additives (LPA) under different color temperatures was firstly evaluated. Riboflavin (Rb) is one of the critical photo-sensitizers in 2% milk when exposed to LED light. Higher color temperature with higher relative intensity of Rb absorbance region resulted in lower Rb and vitamin A retention, lower dissolved oxygen content, and higher TBARS value in milk packaged with non-LPA packaging. Yellow pigmented packaging that completely blocked the Rb absorbance region of all three LED color temperatures successfully reduced the rate of degradation of milk nutrients and flavor. TiO 2 -added packaging partially block the destructive light wavelength; higher level of TiO 2 provided a longer protection on milk freshness. Combination of appropriate LED color temperature and LPA-packaging provided a cost-effective solution for minimizing photo-oxidation in retail dairy case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]