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The added sugar and calories in sweetened, flavored milk have made it an ongoing target for anti-obesity crusader Jamie Oliver. This week, tied in to the Los Angeles season of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, the celebrity chef's campaign made progress when John Deasy, the superintendent of the LA School District, announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he planned to recommend banning flavored milk to the Board of Education. On top of Oliver's rallying cries, a recent New York Times article called out sugar as toxic, adding fuel to the sweet, sweet fire.
But the National Dairy Council defends flavored milk as an important source of nutrients such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin D for school kids. In its report Flavored Milk in Perspective it argues that "when used in moderation and with concern for overall caloric balance, sugars can increase the appeal of nutrient-rich foods" [such as milk], and notes that 66 percent of all milk sold in schools is flavored. It reports in Top Five Reasons to Raise Your Hand for Flavored Milk that removing flavored milk from schools results in kids drinking significantly less milk overall, causing their diets to suffer.
Note on the graphic: We calculated the total added sugar for a school week (five days) and a school year (180 days).
Data sources for the graphic: National Dairy Council, Flavored Milk in Perspective by the National Dairy Council and Top Five Reasons to Raise Your Hand for Flavored Milk
It must also be said that the pH of the gut is critical to nutrinet absorbtion. Most nutrients in our foods require an alkaline pH in the gut. Sugar makes it acidic instead. So even if a child is eating other helathy foods, too much sugar renders it un-absorbable.
That's odd. I'm surprised that The National Dairy Council is recommending their own product. Reminds me of an article in The Onion with the headline: After Much Thought National Egg Council Recommends Eggs
Many cultures the world over don't drink milk and are just fine, most China for example. I like milk and would drink it if I wasn't allergic but I hardly think that it's necessary if the...+READ
That's odd. I'm surprised that The National Dairy Council is recommending their own product. Reminds me of an article in The Onion with the headline: After Much Thought National Egg Council Recommends Eggs
Many cultures the world over don't drink milk and are just fine, most China for example. I like milk and would drink it if I wasn't allergic but I hardly think that it's necessary if the rest of your diet is varied and healthy. The fact that The Dairy Council is worried about the nation's children is a little like The National Corn Growers Association expressing worry over kids who don't drink HRCS laden Gatorade being deficient in electrolytes.-COLLAPSE
Malarkey: Stevia's a plant -- it doesn't come out of a test tube. While sweet, it's also a bit bitter, which is why it doesn't have the market share the chemical sweeteners do.
well cookware junkie, I might disagree with you on the stevia thing. I think that chemical sweeteners are just as bad as HFCS. And that's what's in these sweetened milks, not cane sugar, but HFCS.
This is the primary problem with the american diet. Too many processed foods, too much HFCS (in damn near everything processed) and people buying foods based on price instead of nutritional value.
...+READ
well cookware junkie, I might disagree with you on the stevia thing. I think that chemical sweeteners are just as bad as HFCS. And that's what's in these sweetened milks, not cane sugar, but HFCS.
This is the primary problem with the american diet. Too many processed foods, too much HFCS (in damn near everything processed) and people buying foods based on price instead of nutritional value.
Now, I can understand needing to conserve money. And this is the conundrum. People need to save money, and they choose their food source as a primary cost cutting / money saving method. Hence why processed foods & places like mickey d's becoming the cheapest place to eat. The more processed it is, the cheaper it is. Sad, that.-COLLAPSE
what i thought was funny is that the National Dairy Council said milk was a good source of nutrition. well yea, milk before it was super pasturized is one of the best foods for a person, but when it is pasturized to help preserve it for very long times most of the nutrients are burned away and the nutrients one may see in school milk is just an additive. school milk is the same as any other...+READ
what i thought was funny is that the National Dairy Council said milk was a good source of nutrition. well yea, milk before it was super pasturized is one of the best foods for a person, but when it is pasturized to help preserve it for very long times most of the nutrients are burned away and the nutrients one may see in school milk is just an additive. school milk is the same as any other sugary drink with a side of vitamins and minerals.-COLLAPSE
We know that sugar begats sugar. Yes, the nutrition of milk is good but the costs of sweetened beverages are high. So many children (and adults) find it difficult to ingest any non-sweetened beverage, even water. I think the problem with easily accessible, daily sweetened beverages is the insidious reduction of intake of plain water and other nonsweetened beverages.
40 teaspoons of sugar over a period of one week is about 650 calories. Twenty to thirty minutes of playful exercise each day would be enough to burn that many calories. Jamie would do more good it he became an advocate of more exercise for these kids rather than creating so much excitement over their caloric intake. I don't disagree that we need to do as much as possible to ensure our children...+READ
40 teaspoons of sugar over a period of one week is about 650 calories. Twenty to thirty minutes of playful exercise each day would be enough to burn that many calories. Jamie would do more good it he became an advocate of more exercise for these kids rather than creating so much excitement over their caloric intake. I don't disagree that we need to do as much as possible to ensure our children have a healthy diet during their school lunch break, but reducing calories alone is not the complete answer and removing sweetened milk products in their entirety from the school lunch menu is a patently ridiculous idea.-COLLAPSE
First, let's add gym back to the every day curriculum, Most kids have already lost the walk to school that was typical in our day and far too many schools cut phys ed as soon as there is a budget issue. we'd have far fewer ADD diagnoses if kids had regular exercise opportunities. Then, let's serve food without unnecessary additives, including sugar, food coloring, corn syrup and the rest of the...+READ
First, let's add gym back to the every day curriculum, Most kids have already lost the walk to school that was typical in our day and far too many schools cut phys ed as soon as there is a budget issue. we'd have far fewer ADD diagnoses if kids had regular exercise opportunities. Then, let's serve food without unnecessary additives, including sugar, food coloring, corn syrup and the rest of the preservatives. We have a great agricultural economy with plenty of access to healthy food. Why should we encourage kids to want the natural flavor of food camouflaged with sugar, etc?-COLLAPSE
Why is it so hard to just serve natural food? You know, plain milk, lettuce that doesn't come in a bag, carrots that aren't lathed on a machine, apples without caramel dip? It doesn't have to be gourmet, highly seasoned, or exotic, just close to the original, with whatever cooking is required to make it safe. This is the way to teach children how to enjoy the actual tastes of things.
It's not about dictating what other people consume- it's about choosing how we want to channel our taxpayer dollars, LawnGnome. Public school lunches are heavily subsidized by government dollars (and, ahem, public schools are gov't dollars, period). Choosing what kind of nutritional standards should be met in the expense of those dollars is not fascism, it's common sense. It's not like anyone has...+READ
It's not about dictating what other people consume- it's about choosing how we want to channel our taxpayer dollars, LawnGnome. Public school lunches are heavily subsidized by government dollars (and, ahem, public schools are gov't dollars, period). Choosing what kind of nutritional standards should be met in the expense of those dollars is not fascism, it's common sense. It's not like anyone has proposed that no student ever be allowed to consume flavored milk- just that taxpayers don't have to subsidize it.-COLLAPSE
While we are at it, we should ban HFCS sweetened fruit juices. Seriously- let's let the parents decide what our kids can or cannot eat at school. Parents- find out what you kid's food options are, and if you don't like it, pack them more acceptable foods/beverages.
I find it amazing that sweetened milk is considered the norm in a lot of places. I definitely think we should get it out of schools. It's not about dictating what kids can and can't have -- they can bring some from home if they're absolutely desperate -- it's about setting an example so that processed foods become the exception rather than the standard.
Since when should he have the right to dictate what other people are allowed to consume. Banning things does not work, it hasn't worked for so many things before this, and it won't work now. You want to change someone's behaviors? Educate them on the benefits of changing. Trying to outlaw things because you disagree with them seems akin to facism.
Also, not sure about in your regions, but in...+READ
Since when should he have the right to dictate what other people are allowed to consume. Banning things does not work, it hasn't worked for so many things before this, and it won't work now. You want to change someone's behaviors? Educate them on the benefits of changing. Trying to outlaw things because you disagree with them seems akin to facism.
Also, not sure about in your regions, but in Ontario, the most common 250ml carton of chocolate milk only has 10 more calories per 250ml, and half of the fat of the most available white milk. Anyone know the nutritional information for milk available at american schools?-COLLAPSE
I'm barely sure why there's controversy here.
A lobbying group for a particular food insists that its product is the best source of certain nutrients, and defends its inclusion of unhealthy additives with the fact that if you add sugar to things kids eat more of it...??
Um, of course they do. That's the whole problem with sugar consumption. If you add sugar to broccoli they'll eat more of...+READ
I'm barely sure why there's controversy here.
A lobbying group for a particular food insists that its product is the best source of certain nutrients, and defends its inclusion of unhealthy additives with the fact that if you add sugar to things kids eat more of it...??
Um, of course they do. That's the whole problem with sugar consumption. If you add sugar to broccoli they'll eat more of that too. If you ask the Broccoli Council I'm sure they'll say it's the best source of certain nutrients as well. Why are we asking the lobby group what they think? Why not ask, oh, nutritionists? Oh, because they're not subsidized by the government.
The blatant (and blatantly ignored) politicking of this whole matter bothers me almost more than the added sugars debate. Full applause to Oliver for calling it as it is.-COLLAPSE
Could anything be done to reduce the amount of added sugar in the sweetened milk? If kids need added flavor to get them to drink it, make the additive healthier. If they're drinking it from childhood on, they wouldn't know that the flavoring they're getting is less sweet or somewhat different than the old product. I don't think that an all-or-nothing approach is the right way to view this issue.
If Jamie Oliver is that concerned about the sugar levels in milk, maybe he should ban all milk, flavored and unflavored, in schools.
As somebody already pointed out, milk is already naturally sweet. When he says that milk has more sugar than soda, Jamie Oliver is leaving out the fact that half of that sugar is lactose- a sugar that's already found in unflavored milk.
When I was a kid, my Mom had to sweeten milk as I didn't like the taste of milk, and I still don't. I did not have a problem with obesity, to the contrary, I was a skinny kid. Today what I'm reading about milk, it may not be the best thing for you anyway. Google about this.
Milk is naturally sweet, the sugar isn't needed. I hope Starbuck's starts stocking whole milk that is not sweetened as well.
When I was a kid, my school only offered white milk. For some reason, the taste of white milk in paper cartons made me gag.. I could not drink it. So I brought chocolate powder to school every day, in a little vial. The other kids were jealous. I guess kids could still do that even if the flavored milks are banned.
I think regular milk tastes better than flavoured milk.
So, I guess I was already the kiddo that happily drank his milk instead of soda.
Who says kids have to drink milk in the first place? There are other non-dairy sources of vitamin d and calcium, so why push milk on the kids?? If they're thirsty, they should be drinking water
I’ll tell you why the push for milk:
it's the gov't subsity of the dairy farmers and their influence on school lunch programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose primary job is to promote sales of...+READ
Who says kids have to drink milk in the first place? There are other non-dairy sources of vitamin d and calcium, so why push milk on the kids?? If they're thirsty, they should be drinking water
I’ll tell you why the push for milk:
it's the gov't subsity of the dairy farmers and their influence on school lunch programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose primary job is to promote sales of the nation’s farm products, has singled out milk as the one food that must be offered to all 32 million children who eat the government-sponsored lunch. It’s required at breakfast, too, and an estimated 70 percent of the milk kids drink at school is flavored. Many schools have eliminated sodas, but they still serve strawberry milk containing nearly as much sugar as Mountain Dew.
The focus needs to be three fold
Getting kids more active
Educating them on proper nutrition AND what bad foods do to your body
Feeding them as little “crap” as possible from school lunches
Until and unless we really put forth an effort on all three fronts, the problem of childhood obesity will continue-COLLAPSE
Getting schools to drop flavored milk is a small victory in a very large battle for Jamie. For anyone who has watched his show, LA and/or WV, you have seen that the main reason why schools offer the crap they do is for cost savings. Getting schools and food administrators to see that healthy, fresh food can be just as easy and inexpensive has been tough, which is why I think this is a great first...+READ
Getting schools to drop flavored milk is a small victory in a very large battle for Jamie. For anyone who has watched his show, LA and/or WV, you have seen that the main reason why schools offer the crap they do is for cost savings. Getting schools and food administrators to see that healthy, fresh food can be just as easy and inexpensive has been tough, which is why I think this is a great first step (assuming it happens). I applaud Jamie for all of his efforts and even if nothing happens, countless people and parents have been educated and made aware of this troubling problem in our schools.
It's pathetic that a Brit cares more about school food and is willing to put himself out there for our children's health than we are.-COLLAPSE
fantasyjoker: Fat and salt aren't the problem. You are completely incorrect.
Jamie is right. The sugar in the milk will hurt a lot more than the milk will help. If your child won't drink milk and you know there are no lactose intolerance or allergy issues, why not just use a form of dairy that is more attractive, like cottage cheese? Kids can learn to like sweeteners like stevia just fine...and if you blend cottage cheese, stevia and a little lemon, it is pretty much like...+READ
Jamie is right. The sugar in the milk will hurt a lot more than the milk will help. If your child won't drink milk and you know there are no lactose intolerance or allergy issues, why not just use a form of dairy that is more attractive, like cottage cheese? Kids can learn to like sweeteners like stevia just fine...and if you blend cottage cheese, stevia and a little lemon, it is pretty much like cheesecake filling.-COLLAPSE
My kid won't drink white milk at all anymore. He's never had flavored milk, but that's the road I'm going to take if it gets him to drink the stuff.
Jamie Oliver is starting to annoy me. Instead of picking on chocolate milk, try going after the other food that's full of fat and salt.
Flavored milk should be elminated all together. Why would I want my kids to consume extra sugar, colors and additives when they are more whole foods available that will supply my children with the same or better nutrients than flavored milk. I am a teacher and when I take a field trip with my students and get sack lunches I only get white milk. They don't get a choice. There might be a few gripes...+READ
Flavored milk should be elminated all together. Why would I want my kids to consume extra sugar, colors and additives when they are more whole foods available that will supply my children with the same or better nutrients than flavored milk. I am a teacher and when I take a field trip with my students and get sack lunches I only get white milk. They don't get a choice. There might be a few gripes but you know what...they all still drink the white milk. Not a single one of them refused to drink it yet these same kids choose chocolate milk when they eat in the cafeteria. There are many other sources of nutrients that are available to eat and drink if a child all out refuses to drink white milk. It is just an excuse when it's said that kids will consume less milk. STOP THE EXCUSES.-COLLAPSE
Take a look at data from the 70's to the 00's for food consumption. For just about all the food groups, consumption is up. But for one exception, the caloric intake from those groups are up. The exception? Milk. Simply because a lot of people went from whole to low fat and skim milk. Throwing chocolate milk in there pretty much means that we break even (take fat out, add sugar).
Blame milk?...+READ
Take a look at data from the 70's to the 00's for food consumption. For just about all the food groups, consumption is up. But for one exception, the caloric intake from those groups are up. The exception? Milk. Simply because a lot of people went from whole to low fat and skim milk. Throwing chocolate milk in there pretty much means that we break even (take fat out, add sugar).
Blame milk? Good luck making that argument when the calorie consumption from dairy has remained more or less the same. The real culprit is obvious: Eating too much without exercising to balance it out.-COLLAPSE
I personally don't think that poorly thought out school lunches and the prevalence of fast food options is the primary driver for obesity and diabetes in our culture.
Lets put sedentary lifestyle living on the table and see where that leads...
While I admit that my 8 year old doesn't have the greatest appetite for trying new foods, and that's mostly my own fault, I'm happy that we were at least smart enough to only give him white milk to start out with.
My point is that for the most part kids will eat what they've been "trained" to eat, for better or worse. If a kid's been brought up to eat healthy food, I believe that they will grow...+READ
While I admit that my 8 year old doesn't have the greatest appetite for trying new foods, and that's mostly my own fault, I'm happy that we were at least smart enough to only give him white milk to start out with.
My point is that for the most part kids will eat what they've been "trained" to eat, for better or worse. If a kid's been brought up to eat healthy food, I believe that they will grow up enjoying healthy foods. If they are brought up on crap and junk, they will be trained to only eat crap and junk.-COLLAPSE
This statement from the National Dairy Council is misleading.
"when used in moderation and with concern for overall caloric balance, sugars can increase the appeal of nutrient-rich foods" [such as milk]
What is "moderate" about 8 tsps of sugar in 16 oz of milk?
Calories are not necessarily the issue here; I wouldn't mind children drinking whole milk every day, but I do mind if that milk had additives like food coloring, sugar and unnatural flavoring in it. Flavored/sugary milk is only part of a larger problem of poorly constructed school meal programs, but I think whatever unnecessary sugars he can eliminate should be applauded.
I don't think the calorific value of the added sugar in milk is the main issue with childhood nutrition. After all 8 tsps would be a whole 120 calories or so. Gasp!
From my own observations, I'd say one of the main problems is the tendency for children to avoid proper meals having consumed sugar-rich foods. I suspect it's as much an issue of nutritional deficit as it is sugar overload.
I think the real problem is that we accept that kids won't drink milk unless it is filled with sugar and flavorings. It's such a defeatist attitude, and there won't be any significant change without, well, actual change.
He's wrong....but only in timing. Sweetened, flavored milk should be at the end of the list of food to eliminate. Fried foods, cookies, candy bars and sugar sodas would be higher on the list.