From Christopher Journeaux, head of marketing and sales
JERSEY DAIRY wishes to correct the inaccuracies in the letter from Hedi Green (JEP, 15 February) in which she contended that cow’s milk was not good for children’s health and should be removed from their diets.

Ms Green’s views could not be further from the truth as health authorities the world over recommend low-fat dairy products as a vital part of a child’s diet. Milk provides an essential source of calcium, for example especially in the key early years to bolster bone development and density.

Moreover, as Jersey milk contains 18% more protein, 20% more calcium, and a higher concentration of minerals and vitamins than that from other breeds, we can assure parents that far from being bad for their children our milk is the healthiest and most nutritious of all.

Ms Green’s letter contains a number of incorrect statements which create a false impression about the quality of our products and the care with which our farmers conduct themselves which we cannot allow to be put in the public domain without comment.

She contends that milk is an allergen, detrimental to health; but only to those who suffer from a lactose allergy in the same way as some unfortunate people are allergic to nuts, wheat, gluten or shellfish.

We also wish to assure Islanders that contrary to her claims the Island herd has never been treated with growth hormones nor have antibiotics ever been added to cattle feed.

Anti-biotics – and any other treatments essential to the well-being of a dairy cow – are only given when an animal is ill and under the supervision of a vet in exactly the same way as when administered by a medical practitioner to a human being. When a cow is ill or receiving treatment it is removed from the herd and quarantined and its milk does not enter the food chain.

We have procedures in place at the dairy to subject all the milk we receive to rigorous testing to ensure it contains nothing that could he harmful to human health and this includes strict testing for any anti-biotic residue.

Ms Green is also wrong to suggest that residues of pus and blood are routinely found in milk in Jersey and elsewhere. Because of the aforementioned rigorous testing procedures employed by all dairies as required by the health legislation we ensure that only quality products reach retail outlets.

Instead of discouraging children from drinking milk as Ms Green would wish us to do, we should be ensuring that they consume three portions of dairy products every day. The same can said for adults.

We recently introduced the 1% fat milk (blue) to encourage more people to consume dairy products, a move that was supported by the UK Food Standards Agency and Jersey’s Health Promotion Unit. The unit acknowledges and promotes the consumption of low-fat dairy products as making an important contribution to a balanced diet as they still provide essential nutrients and vitamins but with a lower intake of saturated-fat.

In Jersey, parents are advised to give whole ‘yellow’ or fat-reduced ‘green’ milk to children under five years old. If children are growing and eating well, after five years of age they can be offered the new 1% fat milk or skimmed ‘orange’ milk, or they can continue with ‘green’ fat-reduced or ‘yellow’ whole milk.
Moreover, milk is now recognised as a healthier alternative to commercial sports drinks.

A recent study by Dr Susan Shirreffs of Loughborough University has shown that when consumed immediately after strenuous exercise, a simple glass of milk can restore and maintain hydration status better than man-made drinks.

Milk also offers a long list of nutritional benefits for sports men and women, including protein for muscle growth and repair, carbohydrates for energy, fluid and electrolytes for re-hydration, and vitamins and minerals for healthy bones and body.

Jersey milk and the dairy products derived from it are of top-quality, fresh and produced here in the Island. They are not only good for the health of the population but beneficial for the local economy and in reducing the Island’s carbon footprint.