With a new website and social media campaign soliciting help from real farmers, the Milk Processor Education Program is on a mission to regain milk's dominance as Americans' protein drink of choice.
Consumption of fluid milk has been waning. According to 2014 data from the USDA Economic Research Service, consumption of beverage milk has fallen from just over 30 gallons per person in 1970 to around 20 in 2012.
According to ERS, fluid milk is being pushed out by the growing popularity of carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices and bottled water. The MilkPEP campaign is an effort to regain those consumers.
Julia Kadison, MilkPEP CEO, told the AP this week that the new campaign – which features five key benefits of milk that focus on its production, nutrition and advantages over non-traditional "milks" – aims to control misinformation stemming from a study in the British Medical Journal that suggested milk consumption could lead to earlier deaths and higher incidents of fractures.
The study took hold online.
"I said, 'That’s enough,'"Kadison told the AP. "We can’t have these headlines that 'Milk Can Kill You' and not stand up for the truth."
The new website, milktruth.com, offers shareable information about milk, including:
• Milk is an affordable, convenient and accessible source of essential nutrients for all family members.
• Milk provides nutrients without excess fat or calories
• Milk offers a range of health benefits backed by research
• Milk is not easily replaced by rice or almond milk beverages
• Milk is "real, wholesome, and local" as 97% of dairies are family owned and operated
Dairy farmers and ag industry joined the action on Twitter Tuesday. See below for a selection of their #milktruth posts.
For protein, not all milks R created =.Real milk: 8g/8oz vs almond milk: 1g/8oz http://t.co/kDfKL2eCln #MilkTruth pic.twitter.com/9o0I954Jt8
— Ray Prock Jr. (@RayProck) January 27, 2015
Milk is a nutrient powerhouse, and it’s not just for kids. Get the facts. http://t.co/lArNqgoLJS #MilkTruth pic.twitter.com/e5HSFLJzQk
— NY Animal Ag (@NYAnimalAg) January 27, 2015
1 CUP OF MILK - whether fat-free, low-fat, whole, lactose-free or organic–provides #MilkTruth http://t.co/j358MauNoa pic.twitter.com/wQ32JVOVIl
— Jeff Simmons (@JeffSimmons2050) January 27, 2015
Did you know that whole milk is only 3.5% fat? #MilkTruth #GetReal http://t.co/bcdOO2mKNr
— Carrie Mess (@DairyCarrie) January 27, 2015
Meet Jenna, dairy farmer. Learn about life on her farm. http://t.co/Nzx7jbXcfx #MilkTruth
— Will Gilmer (@gilmerdairy) January 27, 2015
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