Dairy Council Wants More Milk Products for Kids

LONDONA new expert panel created by The Dairy Council called for the dairy industry to accelerate the development of innovative new products that will appeal specifically to young people as a healthy, quick snack or a sports recovery drink.

It is apparent that the dairy industry needs to increase the accessibility of milk based drinks and address the image and appeal for young people. We want children to focus on understanding the meaning of making healthy eating and drinking choices. Milk is an excellent source of essential nutrients for bone growth and development. It is an easy way for children to contribute to their recommended daily intake of calcium, said Dr. Judith Bryans, director of The Dairy Council. Messages clearly need to be defined on the benefits of drinking milk and marketed so they are easily and readily available to young people.

Other topics discussed during the expert panel meeting included the need for academics to defend dairy publicly on the issue of health claims. The need for research to be conducted that shows dairys nutritional role in a sustainable diet also was addressed.