Need For School Milk Now “Much Less”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31275, 23 January 1967, Page 18

Need For School Milk Now “Much Less”

“In view of the high general standard of nutrition found in school children in this country, the need for milk in schools is much less than it was at the inception of the scheme,” says the paediatrician to the North Canterbury Hospital Board, in reply to a letter to the Editor of “The Press” from “Puzzled Parent.”

“Puzzled Parent” says, “As a member of a P.T.A. group which studied the school milk scheme recently I am somewhat bewildered by statements made by the pediatrician to the North Canterbury Hospital Board in your issue of Saturday. We were told by accepted authorities who supported statements with quoted facts that (a) surveys had shown very little wastage; (b) schools had stands and took precautions to protect milk from sunlight; (c) children were not forced to drink milk if they disliked it; (d) even if parents could afford the low price of milk it was not in fact purchased in sufficient quantity in the homes and the nutritional need still existed: (e) the dental and medical authorities, the Plunket Society and the nutritionists associated with school children all supported the scheme in the interests of the children’s health. I am sure the paediatrician you quote must have facts in support of his opinions and I ask that he should supply them as this is a matter of interest to all parents.” The paediatrician replies, “I must admit that I was not fully aware of the recent im-

provements that have taken place in the administration of, and distribution of, the milk in schools scheme. I am fully aware of the excellent nutritional value of milk and acknowledge that it is a valuable and important component of a child’s diet. “Over-nutrition and its resultant obesity is a common medical problem in the adult population in this country and there is some evidence that this may well begin with dietary patterns established in infancy and childhood. “In the larger centres, particularly, there are less privileged families whose children are less well nourished and if any modification of the scheme is undertaken, it would be important to make provision for these children. “At present, I am not aware of any surveys having been undertaken on the state of children’s nutrition in those centres that have discontinued the scheme. If such a survey did show a deterioration in children’s health and nutrition, then the case for retention of milk in schools would be much stronger.”