Two decades of World School Milk Day
There are some days that feel like the international dairy community works together and comes together to celebrate milestones. Last Wednesday, it was the 20th anniversary of World School Milk Day, a celebration promoted by the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization. The International Dairy Federation, for its part, highlighted the idea of continuing its mission to ensure that every child has access to nutritious foods with the release of a new bulletin. As part of this global event, IDF shined a light on the critical role that milk and milk products play in supporting the health and development of children and adolescents through school milk and feeding programmes.
“Milk and milk products are more than just food – they are a foundation upon which children and adolescents can thrive, both physically and mentally,” Laurance Rycken, director general of IDF, said. School feeding programmes reach 418 million children globally, playing a crucial role in addressing hunger and malnutrition. Over 210 million children in 104 countries benefit from milk and milk products as part of school milk and school feeding programmes.
Since 1993, IDF has championed the development and enhancement of school milk programmes, recognising their importance in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Not only do these programmes combat hunger, but they also improve educational outcomes and support overall child development.
The newly released IDF Bulletin, State of Milk and Milk Products in School Programmes, provides the findings from the IDF Survey launched in 2023 on milk and milk products in schools. It offers insights into the design, distribution, management, funding and resilience of school milk programmes and school feeding programmes that include milk and milk products. These programmes have proven resilient, even in the face of challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey was distributed through organisations worldwide, including IDF country members and Tetra Pak representatives and contacts. Results from the survey represent observations from 47 countries.
Have a look at the benefits of school milk: https://fil-idf.org/dairys-global-impact/school-milk-knowledge-hub/
- Suzanne Christiansen, editor, Dairy Industries International.
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