Milk ban call by vegetarian group

Nov 16 2007 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail

CHILDREN should be stopped from drinking milk in schools, according to a new campaign.

The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation (VVF) believes that cows’ milk is associated with a range of health problems. But Professor Peter Elwood, a leading Welsh expert who has recently studied all the published research on milk, told the Western Mail, “Milk is hugely good for you.”

School children aged between five and seven are entitled to free school milk in Wales.

Dr Justine Butler, the VVF’s senior health campaigner, said, “The dairy industry often sends glossy promotional materials to schools putting pressure on teachers to encourage children to drink milk. However, a growing body of scientific evidence links cows’ milk to a large number of childhood illnesses and shows that cows’ milk is not the best source of calcium.

“There are many healthier alternatives including water, soya milk and fruit juice.”

The VVF’s report White Lies links cows’ milk to a large number of childhood illnesses, stating that it is the single biggest cause of food allergies in children.

It also claims that allergic reactions to milk can lead to intestinal bleeding and iron-deficiency anaemia, and early exposure to cows’ milk has been linked to type 1 diabetes.

The report also raises concerns about the possible health effects of the growth hormone IGF-1 in milk, saying that it has been linked to an increased risk of childhood cancers, and that other hormones in milk have been linked to acne.

The VVF also states that dairy products contribute significant amounts of cholesterol, animal protein and saturated animal fat to the diet, increasing the risk of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other degenerative diseases.

Dr Butler said, “Cows’ milk is promoted as the best source of calcium, important for growing bones. However, most people in the world don’t drink milk – over 70% of the world’s population can’t digest the sugar in milk as they are lactose-intolerant.”

The VVF said that research also shows that, throughout the world, the people who consume the most milk suffer the highest levels of osteoporosis and animal protein in milk can promote calcium loss, leading to osteoporosis.

A recent review of 58 studies on milk published in the journal Paediatrics found that there is little evidence to support encouraging adolescents to drink more milk for the sake of bone health.

In a bid to help children opt out of school milk schemes, the VVF has created a letter parents can download from its website.

Prof Elwood, an epidemiologist at Cardiff University, has done his own long-term study into the dietary effects of milk, which was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

He said, “There is really quite convincing evidence about milk in relation to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colon cancer. The benefits of drinking milk are felt later in life. Milk is a superb supply of first-class protein and should be encouraged.

“My worry is that about 20% of girls and between 7% and 10% of boys have low calcium levels and, while you can get calcium from other non-dairy foods like broccoli, you would have to eat enormous amounts to get the same amount as in milk.”

He added, “Lactose intolerance is very uncomfortable and distressing but there is no evidence that it causes damage.

“And, even if you are lactose intolerant, you can take a certain amount of milk.”

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said, “We see milk as an integral part of our healthy schools agenda and will continue our commitment to providing milk to Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) pupils at no cost to parents.”