IDM | EDA Column recommended daily calcium intake. In some Member States dairy is also one the main natural sources of iodine in diet – the intake of iodine from milk and dairy products is up to 37%. Milk and dairy products are also natural sources of high quality protein. Are dairy products really high in sugars? Putting facts into a wider perspective Dairy products are low contributors to added sugar intakes in Europe while they are high contributors of essential nutrients in all population groups. The dietary surveys show that consumption of added sugars from dairy is low and ranges between 6% (UK) to 12% (NL). At the same time dairy consumption contributes to 36% (UK) to 58% (NL) of calcium intake5. It should be considered that inadequate intakes of certain nutrients in the European diet may be partly a consequence of low dairy consumption. Adding sugar to dairy increases palatability and therefore may help consumers reach recommendations of dairy consumption. Flavoured milks and yoghurts are a way to increase milk consumption and to boost the population’s vitamin, mineral and protein intake. What does the science say on chocolate milk and health? In many EU countries sweetened dairy products such as flavoured fruit yoghurt and fermented milks are consumed as desserts or snacks. A number of studies show that yoghurt consumption, including flavoured ones, has a neutral or beneficial effect on weight status6,7,8. Consumption of flavoured milk has been linked to better overall diet quality without any adverse impact on weight9,10,11. Recent science also shows a positive association between yoghurt consumption, including flavoured ones, and diet quality and metabolic profile in children12 and adults13. The latest science and dietary guidelines also suggest that higher intake of yoghurts, including flavoured ones, is linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes14,15. Is the EU food and nutrition policy taking the right direction? For many years it has been challenging to explain to the policy makers that nutrients present in food exist in combination and there is a complex interplay which is not captured by a single nutrient approach. Our diets are not composed of isolated, single nutrients but of multiple, varied and complex foods. The focus on ‘bad nutrients’ in the EU food and nutrition policy might not bring the expected results. Consumers are expecting evidence-based advice on how to compose their daily diet and what products should find place on their plate. Do the policy makers take the right direction and use the best tools to tackle the obesity challenge? Is a nutrient-focused approach appropriate in the context of public health and nutrition policy? It seems that the reality is complex and this complexity needs to be adequately reflected in the health and nutrition strategy of the EU if the efficiency is at stake. Dietary guidance and science increasingly recognise the importance of total nutrient content of food rather than of particular individual nutrients. Let’s all make the effort to help 22 · 4-5 2016 | international-dairy.com the policy makers understand that a positive approach to nutritious wholesome foods such as milk and dairy products can play an important role in fighting the obesity challenge. References 1 Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19·2 million participants. The Lancet, Volume 387, Issue 10026, 1377 – 1396. Published 2 April 2016, doi 2 Unpublished data, HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children), WHO Collaborative cross-national survey 3 http://ec.europa.eu/health/nutrition_physical_activity/ high_level_group/index_en.htm 4 http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/milk/school-milk-scheme/ index_en.htm 5 UK NDNS survey 2008/09- 2011/12, NL Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2007-2010, NL Kenniscentrum Factsheet on Sugar Consumption 6 Mozzafarian D et al. (2011) Changes in diet and lifestyle and long-term weight gain in women and men. N Engl J Med 361: 2392-404 7 Wang H et al. (2013) Longitudinal association between dairy consumption and changes of body weight and waist circumference: the Framingham Heart Study. International Journal of Obesity; 1–7 8 M.A. Martinez-Gonzalez & al. (2014) Yogurt consumption, weight change and risk of overweight/obesity: The SUN cohort study. Nut, Met & Cardio Dis, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. numecd.2014.05.015 9 Nicklas TA et al. (2013). The nutritional role of flavored and white milk in the diets of children. J Sch Health: 83(10):728-33. 10 Fayet F et al (2013). Australian children who drink milk (plain or flavored) have higher milk and micronutrient intakes but similar body mass index to those who do not drink milk. Nutr Res: 33: 95-102. 11 Murphy MM et al (2008). Drinking flavored or plain milk is positively associated with nutrient intake and is not associated with adverse effects on weight status in US children and adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc: 108:631-639. 12 Zhu Y et al (2014). The associations between yogurt consumption, diet quality, and metabolic profiles in children in the USA. Eur J Nutr. 13 Wang et al. (2013) Yogurt consumption is associated with better diet quality and metabolic profile in American men and women. Nutr Res; 33(1):18-26 14 Chen M et al. (2014), Dairy consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: 3 cohorts of US adults and an updated metaanalysis. BMC Med.12:215 15 The Dutch Health Council published the most recent dietary guidelines in Europe. The Guidelines conclude that consuming 60 grams per day of yoghurt compared to 10 grams per day decreases diabetes risk by 15%. Dutch dietary guidelines: http://www.gezondheidsraad. nl/sites/default/files/201524_richtlijnen_goede_voeding_ 2015.pdf (see page 32)
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