ALMOST ONE THIRD OF IRISH ADULTS FAIL TO MEET GOVERNMENT DIETARY   RECOMMENDATIONS ON DAIRY

According to TNS mrbi research nearly one third of Irish adults (29%) do not consume the basic “three servings of dairy a day” recommended by the Irish Department of Health & Children.

As dairy products provide a high proportion of calcium and essential nutrients, these findings suggest a large number of Irish adults may be at risk of reducing their general well being in the short term - and exposing themselves to serious long term health risks.

In contrast, results from the Slan report 2007, show that 86% of Irish adults do manage to consume at least 3 daily servings per day of food from the top shelf of the food pyramid which includes cakes, biscuits and confectionery.  These foods should be “difficult to reach” - to be consumed sparingly - because they are typically high in sugar, salt and fats.

To combat this gap in dairy consumption, the National Dairy Council is investing in a 15 week national advertising campaign from early July to raise awareness about the importance of milk and dairy products as a natural source of calcium and essential nutrients. 

According to nutritionists, calcium is vital for our bones and teeth. Bone is a living tissue which is constantly renewed and so we need a constant supply of nutrients - at every age. Higher levels are needed for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and during our formative years, with 90% of adult bone mass laid down by the late teens.  Dietary calcium helps to prevent dissolution of tooth enamel.  In addition to calcium, dairy foods are also important sources of other important nutrients including protein, B vitamins (riboflavin, vitamin B12 and folate) and phosphorous.

The daily guidelines from the Department of Health & Children for dairy are set at a level to assist adults to achieve the recommended intake of calcium and other essential nutrients which our bodies need. The daily recommendation of ?three dairy a day? for adults can be easily achieved from selecting a total of 3 servings, from:  1 oz or 28 g of hard cheese (about the size of a matchbox); one serving of one third of a pint of milk; or one carton of yoghurt.

“Most Irish adults have seen the food pyramid, they understand the concept and they know in theory the importance of having a balanced diet,” says Helen Brophy, Chief Executive of the National Dairy Council, who commissioned the TNS mrbi research in April this year. “But many do not see the information as being relevant to themselves”. 

“Calcium is available in other non-dairy food sources, but consumers have to know how to assess these alternatives both in terms of calcium content and ‘bioavailability’ “, says Helen Brophy. “In other words, some plant sources may have calcium -  but they also have levels of oxalate and phytate which inhibit the absorption of calcium. This makes it very difficult to meet daily calcium requirements exclusively, from these plant foods alone.”

By way of example, an American study showed that about 16 portions of spinach would be required to achieve the same amount of absorbable calcium as a 240g serving of milk.

The TNS mrbi research confirms that the majority of adults believe milk is a refreshing (83%) and nurturing (81%) drink.  It is also easy to see why milk and dairy products are seen as the easiest and most natural source of calcium.