Helen Crawley (nutrition policy, City University London) weighs in on
the milk controversy:
The image of milk as a wholesome drink for children, promoting growth and strong bones and teeth, remains rooted in our images of child health – which is largely why the idea of taking away free milk for under-fives was quickly vetoed by David Cameron.
Well, no. It was vetoed in a panic by a no-principles Prime Minister more intent on looking good in the mdia than doing the right thing...
Milk is still recommended for young children, despite controversies over the fat and saturated fat content of whole milk and arguments over hormone contents, lactose intolerance, milk allergy and a range of other suggested health disadvantages.
Which Helen is keen to pooh-pooh, as they aren't her particular bugbear, and 'free' milk for the nation's children apparently is...
In the UK in the pre-school years, milk is still a major provider of energy and nutrients…It can be argued that these nutrients are available in other foods, and some may not be in short supply in the diets of many young children, but it is difficult to unpick the contribution that free milk for under-fives might play in their overall diet – not least for those children from households where other food and drink choices may not be optimum.
Hmmm, translation into English, please?
If we can't say for sure how important subsidised milk might be in the diets of children who spend time in childcare settings, we can consider the impact of taking it away. Some will continue to serve milk and pay for it themselves, but there is at present limited advice to childcare settings on what, and how much, food and drink are needed by pre-school children.
If they can pay for milk themselves, then why, oh why, are
we paying for it?
Hungry children leaving childcare and returning home in a culture where milk is seen as "less important" are likely to be given fruit-based drinks, perceived and marketed as "healthy alternatives", but these can damage teeth (with or without sugar in them), offer few other nutrients and will habituate children to sweet-tasting drinks.
If they can afford Coke and Fanta then they can afford milk, can't they?
I think your title hits it on the head, much of the nonsense that is spouted about health seems to be aimed squarely at the underclasses. Everything is aimed at the lowest common denominator and no one is to be allowed any choice because of this.
ReplyDeleteI have just sat here doing the typing equivalent of spluttering with rage. I type three words, delete them, type a different three etc etc because I can't bear it.
ReplyDeleteIf only Shug was completely right - this one is aimed at the LCD but sadly that isn't the underclass, it's anyone who isn't a politican, a copper or a GP. Everyone else, as far as they are concerned, cannot look after themselves.
For the second time on this blog today, I ask - when is there an uprising? Seriously. Is there a tipping point? Or do people just not give a shit? I've answered my own question haven't I.
Fuck.
Just a quicky...
ReplyDeleteHungry children leaving childcare and returning home in a culture where milk is seen as "less important" are likely to be given fruit-based drinks, perceived and marketed as "healthy alternatives", but these can damage teeth (with or without sugar in them), offer few other nutrients and will habituate children to sweet-tasting drinks.
We are talking under fives here right?
Has this fuckwit Nutritionist never heard of milk teeth? Nature designed them to drop out.They are expendable.So even if the kid is gargling Coke all day long, you cant damage them.
Adult teeth dont start to come through until the age of 6 or 7.
"not least for those children from households where other food and drink choices may not be optimum.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, translation into English, please?"
Juliam, I think it is Islington for households where occasional male vistors drink cans of Stella, the female council tenant drinks vodka based soft drinks and the kids have to make do with supermarket brand fizzy pop. As for food, all the female council tenant is capable of making is a phone call to place an order with the local takeaway.
Oh, it's everywhere. I'm reminded of being a first time mother whose newborn was constipated:
ReplyDeleteJill: hello nice health visitor-type lady, my baby is constipated, what shall I do?
HV: Put a teaspoon of orange juice in a bottle of boiled water.
Jill: Hello again. I tried the OJ but my baby won't drink it. What shall I do now?
HV: Put a teaspoon of orange juice in a bottle of boiled water.
Jill: I just said, he won't drink it. My mother-in-law has just suggested a teaspoon of demerera sugar in the boiled water instead, as glucose is a stool softener. Shall I try that?
HV: Newborns mustn't have sugar. Put a teaspoon of orange juice in a bottle of boiled water.
Jill: But he won't drink it and he's constipated! I'm not going to rot the teeth he doesn't have yet by giving him sugar water twenty times a day. Surely it's more important he becomes UNconstipated?
HV: Newborns mustn't have sugar. Put a teaspoon of orange juice in a bottle of boiled water.
Jill: Look. You're the HV. You're qualified and all that guff. All's I want you tell me is whether or not there's any other reason a newborn shouldn't have sugar other than having sugar all the time isn't healthy? Can you at least tell me that?
HV: Newborns mustn't have sugar. Put a teaspoon of orange juice in a bottle of boiled water.
Jill: [censored]
Last conversation I ever had with a health visitor. Needless to say, the sugar worked, my son did a poo, his stomach stopped hurting, he stopped crying. And had a lovely - and healthy - good sleep.
The health (and safety) obsession in this country is getting a bit out of hand... as Theodore Dalrymple points out (if you'll excuse the plug!).
ReplyDeleteWarm (& usually slightly off, even in the winter) milk at school put me off drinking the muck for life. Most adults (especially Asians) cannot digest the stuff and it is implicated in certain cases of IBS, asthma & eczema.
ReplyDeleteSo let them have it - the aversion generated will improve their long-term health!
Article translation: Parents can't be trusted to do what I think they should do so I think the state should step in and get them to do what I say.
ReplyDeleteAny chance Helen Crawley can be cut? She obviously isn't useful.
@Ed P
ReplyDelete"Most adults (especially Asians) cannot digest the stuff and it is implicated in certain cases of IBS, asthma & eczema."
Chinese can't digest cow's milk. Europeans and middle easterns can digest cow's milk as we've evolved over the last thousand years since domesticating cows. Goat, camel and buffalo milk are different things. The chinese can digest buffalo milk. And all humans can digest human milk. :-)
"...much of the nonsense that is spouted about health seems to be aimed squarely at the underclasses."
ReplyDeleteWho always seem to have more money than me!
"...sadly that isn't the underclass, it's anyone who isn't a politican, a copper or a GP. Everyone else, as far as they are concerned, cannot look after themselves. "
Yup. We are all 'underclass' now...
"For the second time on this blog today, I ask - when is there an uprising?"
I fear the answer is 'never'...
"We are talking under fives here right?
Has this fuckwit Nutritionist never heard of milk teeth?"
Good point! She probably has, but how many of her audience will make that leap?
"...I think it is Islington for households where occasional male vistors drink cans of Stella, the female council tenant drinks vodka based soft drinks and the kids have to make do with supermarket brand fizzy pop."
ReplyDeleteAh. Chavs. Why didn't she say so, then? ;)
"Last conversation I ever had with a health visitor. "
Good grief! Have these people never heard of 'moderation in all things'?
Mind you, I bet they are enthusiastic consumers of homeopathic remedies...
"...as Theodore Dalrymple points out (if you'll excuse the plug!)."
Always happy to receive a plug for Mr Dalrymple. Excellent writer.
"Warm (& usually slightly off, even in the winter) milk at school put me off drinking the muck for life."
I vaguely remember it. Little, silver-topped glass bottles. I was never too fussed, frankly.
"Article translation: Parents can't be trusted to do what I think they should do so I think the state should step in and get them to do what I say."
That's pretty much the subtext in all CiF and 'Indy' articles, isn't it? Why do we let these people try to run our lives?
"Goat, camel and buffalo milk are different things."
Never tried buffalo milk (except as mozzarella), but goat's milk is AWFUL.
Had a rethink about this. Give it a year or two and they'll be banning the milk too. Bread and water is what they are really aiming for.
ReplyDeleteBloody neo-puritans.
"...a major provider of energy..."
ReplyDeleteSounds really unhealthy. What's the difference between energy and calories?