UK – A new survey by the Dairy Council indicates that women could be putting their future bone health at risk because they wrongly believe milk is fattening.

The majority of women questioned said they usually consume two portions of milk, cheese or yogurt a day, and said they believed they were getting enough calcium in their diets. Nutritionists recommend adults should eat three portions (700mg) of low-fat dairy products a day to meet calcium needs.

Most women were not aware of the recommended amount of dairy products they should be having, but they did recognise the importance of including these foods in their diet, saying they were part of a healthy diet and that milk helped strengthen bones and teeth.

However, when asked the percentage of fat in semi-skimmed milk, many thought it was much higher than 1.7%, with some estimating as much as 41%.