Nutrient-Rich Dairy Foods Are Important Contributors to Healthy, Sustainable Diets and Food Systems
The dairy food matrix is a unique delivery vehicle for nutrients and other bioactive components that interact to promote human health.
Dairy foods are naturally nutritious, and when consumed as part of a healthy, sustainable dietary pattern, are associated with improved health throughout life.
Food security and nutrition are at the core of sustainable diets and food systems and dairy foods are important contributors to healthy sustainable dietary patterns meant to nourish a growing and aging global population that is living with triple burdens of obesity, malnourishment, and chronic disease.
Milk is a leading provider of high-quality protein, calcium, and vitamins and minerals necessary for growth and development across the lifespan yet contributes relatively few calories to the global food supply. This makes milk an efficient source of high-quality nutrition to nourish the world. Milk is versatile and can be transformed into many different products and ingredients that have been shown to promote human health.
Dairy foods, more than any other animal-source foods, are associated with lower stunting worldwide and help improve the health span by contributing to the development of strong muscles and bones and reducing the risk of chronic disease, which encourages functional independence into older adulthood.
Rooted in sound science, the dairy sector supports evidence-based policy and practices that help ensure food security and nutrition for all.
A Key Contributor to Global Nourishment
Milk is an efficient provider of nourishment for the world. For relatively few calories, it is the leading provider of calcium, providing nearly 50% of the global supply, and bioactive fatty acids. It is also a leading provider of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals, globally.
An Important Contributor to Healthy Sustainable Diets and Food Systems
Dairy is naturally nutrient-rich, providing high-quality protein and other nutrients that help ensure food and nutrition security, worldwide.
A Protein Powerhouse
Milk is the third largest provider of protein, globally, and offers more bioavailable high-quality protein than plant-based alternatives or foods.
