Over 350 schools across Ireland are marking World School Milk Day tomorrow (24 September) with the National Dairy Council’s Moo Crew educational platform. Pupils nationwide will take part in a live webinar hosted by presenter John Sharpson and TV chef Aisling Larkin, including an interactive cookery demonstration.

Research carried out by the National Dairy Council has found that only 4% of teens are meeting Department of Health recommendations for milk, yoghurt and cheese while a little over half of teens (51%) are not meeting the recommended daily intake of calcium.

The National Dairy Council (NDC), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM), run the EU School Milk Scheme in Ireland, which helps ensure schoolchildren meet the Department of Health’s recommended daily servings of dairy, as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Commenting on World School Milk Day, Emma Walls, Chief Executive Officer, National Dairy Council said,

“Research funded by the NDC found that only 4% of Irish teenagers are meeting the Department of Health guidelines of five servings of dairy a day. At the same time, 51% are deficient in calcium. It’s deeply concerning that we are seeing this deficit among teenagers, especially as they reach a key stage for bone growth and development.

“At the NDC, our aim is to communicate the importance of consuming good quality dairy products and how looking after our bone health in early life can have a positive impact later in life. Not only does the School Milk Scheme provide one of the much-needed portions of dairy per day, it also offers essential nutrition education and information through accompanying measures and, together, these have the potential to create life-long healthy eating and lifestyle habits.”

About the School Milk Scheme

The EU School Milk Scheme (SMS) has operated in Ireland since 1982. Its purpose is to reconnect children with agriculture and to teach healthy eating habits for life, by distributing milk to children, supported by educational activities. Since 2017, the scheme is operated by the National Dairy Council (NDC) under its Moo Crew educational platform.

The scheme is available to both primary and secondary schools and provides a daily supply of milk at discounted rates to participating schools to allocate to pupils, alongside educational resources which promote the merits and nutritional value of daily dairy consumption.

–ENDS–

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

Sorcha Mac Mahon, Springboard Communications

Sorcha@springboardcommunications.ie | M - 087 7585337 

Marc Woodard, Springboard Communications

Marc@springboardcommunications.ie  | M – 086 8291121

Notes to the Editor:

• Spokespersons from the National Dairy Council are available for interview.

National Dairy Council

The National Dairy Council (NDC) champions the role of quality pasture-based dairy and its nutrition benefits in supporting healthier, more active living. The private farmer-funded marketing agency works to promote and protect Ireland’s dairy reputation at home and abroad and believes in a future in which Irish dairy is recognised and trusted as a vital part of people’s diet and general health across the life stages, indispensable to Ireland’s social and economic wellbeing.

World School Milk Day

World School Milk Day is held all over the world on the last Wednesday of September every year to celebrate the benefits and success of school milk programmes. The first World School Milk Day was celebrated in September 2000 and has since become an annual event promoted by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations).