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Debate over chocolate milk spilling over

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Debate over chocolate milk spilling over

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Debate over chocolate milk spilling over

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Got Chocolate Milk? Health Benefits Debated

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Got Chocolate Milk? Health Benefits Debated

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Nov. 16, 2009&#151; -- Chocolate milk has been a staple in school cafeterias for decades. But as schools nationwide look to make their menus healthier, a debate has emerged over whether the sweet drink should still be served in the cafeteria.

Today the dairy industry is launching an ad campaign to make its case for chocolate milk, arguing that the nutrients children get from it outweigh any additional sugar they consume when drinking it.

Regular low fat milk has 12 grams of sugar per half pint compared to 24 or 30 grams of sugar in chocolate milk.

"I like chocolate milk and I know my girls will too because it's a great way for them to get all the nutrients that go with it," actress Rebecca Romijn says in one commercial.

The campaign, called "Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk," is costing the dairy industry nearly a million dollars, according to Vivien Godfrey, CEO of industry marketing group the Milk Processor Education Program.

Although that may sound like a steep price tag, there is a lot of money at stake for the dairy industry. Schools account for 54 percent of all flavored milk sold, according to the National Dairy Council.

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Got Chocolate Milk? Health Benefits Debated

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Nov. 16, 2009— -- Chocolate milk has been a staple in school cafeterias for decades. But as schools nationwide look to make their menus healthier, a debate has emerged over whether the sweet drink should still be served in the cafeteria.

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U.S. Schools' War Against Chocolate Milk

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U.S. Schools' War Against Chocolate Milk

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Don Farrall / Getty

It would sound like a joke if everyone weren't so up in arms about it. Taking a stand against chocolate milk? It's like canceling Christmas. What could possibly be wrong with something that brings children such joy?

A lot, according to some nutrition experts and school districts that are removing the brown liquid from lunchrooms. One 8-oz. serving of reduced-fat chocolate milk has nearly as many calories and sugar as a 12-oz. can of Coke. Encouraging students to regularly consume the drink, they say, is contributing to an already worrying childhood obesity crisis. (Read a brief history of school lunches.)

As chocolate milk opponents lobby state and federal officials, the dairy industry has responded with an estimated $1 million campaign dubbed "Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk." Launched in early November, the YouTube-intensive strategy is designed to highlight the drink's health benefits (vitamin D, calcium, potassium) and to counter the critics who have pegged it as nothing more than a sugar-laden snack drink.

While milk has been the keystone of America's school lunches since the federally subsidized program was established in 1946, the role of chocolate (and other flavored) milk has become a focus of late following a 2006 rule that required schools to establish comprehensive "wellness programs." Public school districts in Berkeley, Calif., and Boulder, Colo. — two of America's more progressive towns — have removed the drink from their list of daily offerings, opting for low-fat, organic white milk instead. That's a perfect way to force kids to shun milk completely, says the dairy industry.

"Flavored milk really fits two needs," says Ann Marie Krautheim, senior vice president of nutrition affairs for the National Dairy Council. "It meets kids' taste preferences, and it provides the nutrition that they don't get elsewhere."

Some nutrition experts reject such either/or simplification. "There's almost this threat, like "If you don't drink chocolate milk, then your children will not get the nutrition they need!" says Marlene Schwartz, deputy director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. For Schwartz, the dairy industry's campaign is one as concerned with market share as it is with nutrition. "The real issue is a food-industry segment saying, "We want to market our product to children. So we are going to add extra sugar that is completely unnecessary to improve the taste so that kids will drink more of our product." And since more than half of all flavored milk in the U.S. is sold to children in schools, she says, there's a lot to be lost if chocolate milk gets kicked out of the cafeteria. (Watch a TIME video on a bacon chocolate bar.)

Take Colorado's Boulder Valley School District, which removed chocolate milk from its lunchrooms this fall at the recommendation of Ann Cooper, the new director of nutrition services. That's about 30,000 students in 50 schools that are no longer stocking chocolate milk. Cooper is outspoken in her belief that school cafeterias need to be overhauled — fresh ingredients, more fruits and vegetables, less sugary snacks. "I'm all for parents having chocolate milk with their kids at home once in a while, or on Sunday morning with waffles, but it doesn't have any place in schools on a daily basis," she says. If a child chooses chocolate milk instead of regular milk every single day for a year, she says, they'll gain about 3 lbs. because of the extra sugar and calories. "Over the course of a K-12 education, that can add up," says Cooper.

As a National Dairy Council video on YouTube points out, "Chocolate milk is the most popular milk choice among children, and it only has 60 more calories than white milk does." Only 60 more calories? "That sort of thing drives me crazy," says Schwartz. "People don't become obese overnight. You have too much sugar here and too much sugar there, and it adds up and adds up and sooner or later just becomes the norm."

Read a brief history of fad diets.

Read "Sweet! Swiss Invent a No-Melt, Low-Cal Chocolate"

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Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com

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Some school districts and nutrition experts are removing chocolate milk from lunchrooms, claiming the drink has too much sugar. The dairy lobby is fighting back with a new campaign

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Is Chocolate Milk Healthy for Kids? - Kids’ Health Center - Everyday Health

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Serving chocolate milk in school cafeterias is once again under attack, but is chocolate milk really that unhealthy for kids? Nutrition expert Joy Bauer weighs in.

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Flavored Milk Helps Give Kids Nutrients They Often Lack

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Should school cafeterias serve chocolate milk? That question is once again making headlines, as the New York Public School district considers banning the beverage.

2 Works for You is exploring multiple sides of the topic.
Dairy Industry says benefits of milk outweigh sugar concerns
The dairy industry supports keeping both milk and chocolate milk in schools, saying the nutritional benefits outweigh the small amount of added sugar.

"What we see is that when flavored milk is removed from schools kids tend to take less milk, they tend to drink less, they tend to waste more milk, and a lot of times they don't participate in the school meal program as much," said Jenna Allen, a spokeswoman for Dairy Max, and a registered dietitian.

Allen says children need essential nutrients from milk, like calcium and potassium, and they get the same nutrients in chocolate milk.

The American Heart association recommends children under 18 get no more than 25 grams of added sugar per day.
A dietitian's viewpoint
Carly Chason, a registered dietitian, said she understands why schools may be conflicted about eliminating chocolate milk.

"There are a lot of things that go into making those school meals healthy and balanced, accessible for kids, and things they want to eat," she said.

Even so, she agrees that kids don't need more sugar in their diets.

"That goes along with the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association that are all saying you really need to limit the sugar kids are getting," Chason said.
What do parents think?
Among parents, opinions vary, but one parent and running coach said she's okay with everything in moderation.

"(Chocolate milk) is a good source of fat, it's a good source of protein, so it can be a good way to refuel your body," said Allison Rieman.

But she said for young runners, water is the best way to stay hydrated.

"For a 2-year-old running a 50 yard dash, you probably haven't worked up enough energy to get the chocolate milk," she said.
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Should school cafeterias serve chocolate milk?

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Should school cafeterias serve chocolate milk? That question is once again making headlines, as the New York Public School district considers banning the beverage. 2 Works for You is exploring multiple sides of the topic.

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Are you wondering if it's okay for your child to drink chocolate milk? If your child enjoys drinking chocolate milk, rest easy. Drinking real dairy milk, including chocolate milk, provides many health benefits to kids and can be a part of a healthy diet for them. In fact, taking away the option of flavored milk can actually do more harm than good if it means they stop drinking milk altogether.

Keep reading for answers to your questions about chocolate and other flavored milk, including the scoop on sugar.

Does chocolate milk have the same nutrients as white milk?

Flavored milk can help meet children's nutrient needs. It has the same nine essential nutrients found in white milk that are needed for good health. These nutrients include calcium and vitamin D, which contribute to good bone health.

Since childhood and adolescence are a key time for bone growth, it's especially important that kids get enough calcium and vitamin D during this time. However, research shows that kids older than two years fall short of these nutrients.

While they can get calcium and vitamin D from other foods, milk and dairy products are the most commonly eaten food sources of these nutrients.

Will chocolate milk help my children drink more milk?

For children who do not like white milk, flavored milk offers a tasty option to help them get the two to three servings of dairy they need each day.

When offered both types of milk at school, children drink more chocolate milk than white milk and consume more milk overall, with less milk waste. This is important considering children's average intake of dairy is less than what it should be. Even skipping just one serving of milk a day can put kids at a nutritional disadvantage since many of the essential nutrients milk provides are difficult to replace.

What about the sugar content of chocolate milk?

The first thing to know is that all milk naturally contains a type of sugar called lactose. Flavored milk also contains added sugar in the form of sucrose. So the amount of total sugar you see on the Nutrition Facts Panel of chocolate milk reflects both the naturally occurring and added sugar content.

Flavored milk contributes only a minor amount of added sugar to children's diets. Soft drinks and non-carbonated sweetened beverages contribute more than 40% of the added sugars to the diets of children ages two to 18. Flavored milk contributes only about 4% of added sugars.

Since 2007, the added sugar content of chocolate or other flavored milk served in schools nationwide has decreased by about 55%.

While health professionals recommend reducing intake of added sugars, they also say that there is room in the diet to include limited amounts of added sugars to improve the taste of some highly nutritious foods, such as chocolate milk.

Will chocolate milk make my child overweight?

Research doesn't show a link between drinking flavored milk and children becoming overweight. Like any food or beverage, moderation is key. Encourage children to enjoy other dairy foods, too, such as yogurt, cheese and white milk.

What about cavities?

The majority of studies have not found a link between drinking flavored milk and tooth decay.

To enjoy flavored milk while still maintaining healthy teeth, follow these simple tips:

Drink flavored milk with meals rather than between meals.

Drink, rather than sip, flavored milk and other sweetened beverages to decrease the time teeth are exposed to sugar.

Bottom line.

Drinking flavored milk, like chocolate milk, can help children improve their diet quality and meet recommended daily servings of dairy - 3 cups per day of fat-free and low-fat milk and milk products for those age nine years and older and 2 1/2 cups per day for children four to eight years.

About the author

Lois McBean, MS, RDN, is Technical Advisor for Nutrition for the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Dairy Council of Michigan. Among her roles in this position, Lois monitors and critically evaluates nutrition research as it relates to the health benefits of dairy foods, writes and edits nutrition articles and educational materials, and responds to requests for technical information from a variety of audiences.

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Are you wondering if it's okay for your child to drink chocolate milk? If your child enjoys drinking chocolate milk, rest easy. Drinking real dairy milk, including chocolate milk, provides many health benefits to kids and can be a part of a healthy diet for them.

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Chocolate Milk: MoreHarmful than Healthful 

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Chocolate Milk: MoreHarmful than Healthful 

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10 Benefits of Drinking Chocolate Milk for Nutrition Recovery

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10 Benefits of Drinking Chocolate Milk for Nutrition Recovery

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Have you ever wondered why your child's coach tells young athletes to drink chocolate milk after a hard practice? It may sound a bit strange, but actually, chocolate low-fat milk has been shown to help young athletes recover needed nutrition.

What is recovery nutrition?

Recovery is the window of time when your athlete needs to replenish his/her stores of energy after a vigorous workout or activity. Most high school athletes participating daily in two hours or longer of vigorous workouts or younger athletes on highly competitive club teams with equally rigorous workouts can benefit from drinking a glass of chocolate low-fat milk after an intense workout.

10 benefits of chocolate low-fat milk for recovery

Fluid and electrolytes for hydration

Protein source for muscle repair

Carbohydrate source to replenish energy stores for the next practice

Chocolate in the milk boosts the carbohydrate supplied to your muscles and liver

Low cost replenishing option

Often available in the school cafeteria

Quick and potentially portable

For some athletes, it may be easier to tolerate a beverage versus food shortly after a workout

Replenishes necessary vitamins

It tastes great and kids typically love to drink chocolate milk

Using milk as a recovery fuel will also boost your athlete's calcium and vitamin D intake. You might be surprised to know that vitamin D deficiency among our children is becoming increasingly more common. Vitamin D deficiency can have a serious effect on growing bones and bone strength later in life.

Are fancy recovery powders and beverages better than milk?

Not necessarily. While they are almost always more expensive than milk, some products contain more than you bargained for, including caffeine, herbs, mega doses of vitamins and even contaminants such as melamine and lead. If you find that your athlete prefers supplement beverages, be sure to read the label and choose wisely.

Alternatives to cow milk

Finally, if your child is milk allergic or intolerant other milks are available. Examples of these include fortified soy or almond milk. However, additional protein is needed to match that of cow's milk. This can be supplied by a small handful of nuts, for example.

So, the next time you pick up your athlete after a long practice and dinner is still over an hour away, think about bringing him or her a 8-12 ounces of cold chocolate low-fat milk for the ride home. Their muscles will appreciate it.

Learn more about sports nutrition.

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Have you ever wondered why your child's coach tells young athletes to drink chocolate milk after a hard practice? It may sound a bit strange, but actually, chocolate low-fat milk has been shown to help young athletes recover needed nutrition.

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Nutrition in Disguise:”What the Midwest Dairy Council Has to Say About Chocolate Milk

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Nutrition in Disguise:”What the Midwest Dairy Council Has to Say About Chocolate Milk

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Nutrient-rich foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt support positive health outcomes.

Explore Common Milk + Dairy Topics

Milk + Dairy Resources

Did you know June is National Dairy Month?

Dairy foods taste good and are good for you! Celebrate the important role they play in supporting healthier people and communities around the world.

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Credible milk and dairy nutrition information backed by evidence-based science.

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No image available And {{products.length - 5}} additional items, click here to review your cart. Nutrient-rich foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt support positive health outcomes. Explore Common Milk + Dairy Topics Milk + Dairy Resources Did you know June is National Dairy Month? Dairy foods taste good and are good for you!

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Heart Association Says Too Much Chocolate Milk a Health Risk

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Heart Association Says Too Much Chocolate Milk a Health Risk

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Heart Association Says Too Much Chocolate Milk a Health Risk

The U.S. dairy industry spends millions trying to convince parents that medical professionals are firmly behind feeding kids milk spiked with sugar as a healthful way to deliver calcium and Vitamin D. Dairy interests pay for "research" that conveniently delivers the message that chocolate milk is a better choice than Coke. Proxies such as the School Nutrition Association and the American Dietetic Association then make sweeping statements implying that physicians approve kids drinking unlimited amounts of milk that tastes like candy.

It's all part of a well-oiled public relations campaign that deftly obscures the truth about how various medical groups approach sugar in food. The dairy industry has a lot riding on keeping things murky: For decades, milk sales have been plummeting, but sales of flavored milk have tripled. It would be very helpful indeed if the nation's medical doctors all stood behind the dairy industry's campaign to put a carton of chocolate milk on every kid's cafeteria tray.

In this first report on the actual policies of various medical groups the dairy industry calls allies, I look at how the American Heart Association, once pre-occupied with the fat Americans eat, is now focused on the risks of heart disease and other dangers posed by the excessive amounts of sugar we and our children consume-including flavored milk.

Read closely and you may find that your child already is drinking more chocolate milk at school than the heart association thinks wise.

In 2009, the heart association issued guidelines on sugar urging that men consume no more than 150 calories worth of "added sugar" daily, and women no more than 100. To put that into perspective, 150 calories of sugar represents the amount in 10 teaspoons, or a bit less than the sugar in a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola.

The heart association reasons that Americans already eat too much and exercise too little. We therefore have little room for "discretionary" calories in the form of sugar, which has no nutritional value. If you are an average sort of guy, consider that can of Coke your entire allotment of sugar for the day.

In January of this year, the association in its journal Circulation published an article identifying cardio-vascular risks for adolescents who eat too much sugar. A third of all U.S. children are overweight or obese. On average they get more than 21 percent of their calories from "added" sugars, meaning sugars that don't occur naturally in food-such as the sugar in an apple-but are put there by the food industry to sell product. (Manufacturers aren't required to identify how much sugar they've added to prepared foods, but consumers can get a fair idea by reading ingredient and nutrition labels carefully.)

A detailed survey of 2157 adolescents aged 12 to 18, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in the years 1999 to 2004, revealed that sugar consumption was positively correlated with several key risks of cardio-vascular disease, including increased triglyceride levels, suppressed HDL ("good" cholesterol) and elevated LDL ("bad" cholesterol). Researchers pointed to an emerging body of science linking sugar and refined carbohydrates with these and other health risks, such as insulin resistance-a precursor to diabetes-and increased fat production by the liver. They said the federal government's position on sugar was out of date.

"In 1986, the Sugars Task Force of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a review of the research then available and concluded that there was no conclusive evidence of an association between sugar consumption and (cardio-vascular disease) or its risk factors," the researchers said. "Since then, the results of several new epidemiological studies and short- and long-term experimentsal studies have provided more evidence linking the intake of carbohydrates and sugars (particularly fructose) and increased risk of (cardio-vascular disease). And importantly, consumption of added sugars has risen substantially since the research reviewed in the Sugar Task force report was done."

According to the heart association, no more than half of discretionary calories-those beyond what are needed to provide proper nutrition-should be consumed as sugar. For children, figuring out what that means can be tricky, since kids come in all shapes and sizes and have different energy and nutritional needs depending on how old and how active they are. Along with its "food pyramid," the U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a chart indicating the discretionary calorie allowances for children of different age and activitiy levels.

For instance, an 11-year-old girl who gets less than 30 minutes worth of "moderate exercise" most days would be allowed 130 discretionary calories. According to the heart association, only half of those-65-should come from sugar. By comparison, a typical eight-ounce serving of chocolate milk contains 14 grams of added sugar, usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, which translates as 3.5 teaspoons or 52.5 calories.

This girl might well have a container of chocolate milk for breakfast. But a second container at lunch would put her 40 calories over her sugar limit-and that represents all the sugar the heart association thinks she should be eating the entire day. In other words, no cupcake at her classmate's birthday party, no soda on the way home, no ice cream for dessert after dinner, no sucking on a lollipop while watching television.

By contrast, a 16-year-old boy who is very active-meaning he gets at least 60 minutes worth of moderate physical activity most days-would be entitled to 650 discretionary calories, half of those-325-from sugar. That represents a much bigger flavored milk allowance-more than six eight-ounce cartons of chocolate milk.

The point is that millions of children already are drinking too much flavored milk at school. Some are taking it at breakfast, lunch and in supper programs-three times a day-then stopping at a convenience store for a 24-ounce Coke containing 290 calories worth of high-fructose corn syrup to drink on the way home. Is it any wonder kids are obese?

The heart association recommends that Americans limit their consumption of sugary beverages-including sodas, sports drinks and ice teas-to no more than 36 ounces per week.

In April of this year, the association urged the USDA to impose a limit on the amount of sugar in school food, something the agency in all the rules and regulations governing the school meals program has never attempted before. The heart association suggests that new school meal guidelines, now pending, should restrict a single serving of milk to 130 calories or less to hold down the sugar content, and cereal to no more than 7 grams of total sugar. (A 1.25-ounce serving of Kellogg's Raisin Bran contains 11 grams of sugar.)

The association says it is disappointed the USDA would allow schools to serve half of all fruit portions as juice. Too much sugar. It would rather schools serve exclusively whole fruit.

"It just makes sense if you're asking the American public to reduce sugars you wouldn't add more sugar than needed to flavored milk," said heart association science advisor Dorothea Vafiadis. "There has to be a limit."

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Heart Association Says Too Much Chocolate Milk a Health Risk

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The U.S. dairy industry spends millions trying to convince parents that medical professionals are firmly behind feeding kids milk spiked with sugar as a healthful way to deliver calcium and Vitamin D. Dairy interests pay for "research" that conveniently delivers the message that chocolate milk is a better choice than Coke.

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With 15 essential nutrients, Canadian milk is a nutritious and delicious staple. Enjoy it by the glassful or add it to your favourite recipes.