Got Hormones?

Associated Food Stores wants its shoppers to know that its milk does not come from cows treated with Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), a synthetic growth hormone used by some dairy farmers to increase milk production.

But the Utah Department of Agriculture has a beef with how the Salt Lake City company is getting that message across to consumers.

The company, a cooperative supplying a wide variety of food products to about 400 independently operated grocers, rolled out in mid-April an ad campaign touting "Got Hormones? We Don't."

"It's a false statement," said Leonard Blackham, commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. "All milk has [naturally occurring] hormones in it."

Blackham said his agency asked Associated Foods to stop its campaign. The company agreed, and a new campaign set to start May 13 will say: "Got Natural Milk? All-Natural Milk from cows not treated with rBST."

The action taken by the Agriculture Department illustrates just how controversial rBST has become among those in the dairy industry. Dairy farmers that use the hormone insist milk from cows injected with rBST is safe. But numerous watchdog groups and advocates of organic and natural foods say it's not safe and has been linked to certain cancers and other health issues.

Got synthetic hormone-free milk?

How 'bout controversy?

A milk marketing campaign by Associated Food Stores has riled several dairy farmers across the Beehive State and caught the eye of a state agency, forcing the Salt Lake City-based grocery cooperative to change its milk ads starting Sunday.

At issue is what has been described by the state and irate dairy farmers as a "misleading" milk ad run by 170 of Associated Food's 400-plus independently owned and corporate-owned stores, including Macey's, for the past two weeks.

The ad says: "Got Hormones? We Don't."

But there's no such thing as hormone-free milk, said Kyle Stephens, deputy commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

"Hormones are naturally occurring in milk, so the ad is false and misleading," he said.

Starting Sunday, Stephens said, Associated Foods will change its milk ads to say "Got All Natural Milk? Our Cows Do."

"We want to be good corporate citizens. But obviously we've offended the dairy farmers," said Neal Berube, chief operating officer with Associated Foods.

"We respect them and are compassionate to their needs. But we're not embarrassed about giving consumers a choice."

Meanwhile, Associated Foods can continue advertising its store brand, Western Family milk, as "all natural from cows not treated with the growth hormone rbST," Stephens said.

That's because the Food and Drug Administration allows the term "all natural" to be used on milk products that don't use added colors or synthetic materials, he said.

Recombinant bovine somatotropin, or rbST, is a synthetic version of a naturally-occurring hormone that was approved by the FDA in 1993 to boost milk production. There's no significant difference between milk from cows treated with the growth hormone and untreated cows, the federal agency said.

Even its natural form, bovine somatotropin, a naturally occurring protein found in cow's milk, does not have any physiological effect on humans consuming the milk because it is biologically inactive in humans. Pasteurization destroys 90 percent of bST in milk, the FDA said.

Dairy industry, retailers divided

But the bioengineered growth hormone, rbST, created by biotech giant Monsanto, remains a controversial issue dividing dairy farmers and retailers, especially those in the organic industry.

"We're not saying rbST milk is dangerous," Berube said. "We're not saying it's good or bad. We have milk that's not treated with the hormone rbST and we will continue to let consumers know we have that."

State Agriculture Commissioner Stephens disagreed.

"These ads are playing on a misunderstanding that rbST-free milk is healthier than rbST milk," he said. "All milk is natural. And there are no tests that can be conducted to differentiate between rbST and rbST-free milk."

Still, some consumers are wary, and more seem to be requesting for their milk to be rbST-free, he said.

Fueling such concerns is a recent petition by a coalition including the Organic Consumers Association for the FDA to ban rbST because it allegedly increased the risk of certain kinds of cancer for those who drank milk from rbST-treated cows. But Monsanto, which produces the rbST hormone, maintains it's safe.

More retailers go rbST-free

Those health concerns are apparently prompting other retailers to make changes too.

In Utah, Kroger-owned Smith's Food Drug stores have begun offering certified synthetic hormone-free milk.

"Our milk suppliers are now providing us with raw milk they have certified as being free of the synthetic hormone rbST, so Smith's has recently begun using that supply in all our milk production," Marsha Gilford, Smith's spokeswoman said in a statement Thursday.

"Utah customers will find information on the milk container label and may possibly see some in-store notification in the dairy section."

Elsewhere in the nation, Chipotle started using rbST-free sour cream on its burritos and tacos this year, and Starbucks said it would use more milk without synthetic hormones.

Earlier this week, a Florida-based supermarket chain, Publix Super Markets, began introducing a full line of milk without rbST.

Utah dairy farmers worried.

Those changes are a troubling trend for dairy farmers like Brad and Jason Bateman of Bateman's Mosida Farms in Alberta, who have been using rbST intermittently for the past eight years to increase their cows' milk production.

"This is just some marketing program that some silk suit dreamed up of to differentiate their milk," said Brad Bateman, a third-generation Utah dairy farmer. "If we stopped using rbST, it would cost us upwards of a dollar per hundredweight to produce milk and we will be producing 10 percent to 12 percent less milk."

Bateman's Mosida currently ships 420,000 pounds of milk per day to processors including Dannon Co. in West Jordan, Meadow Gold Dairies and Cream O'Weber Dairy in Salt Lake City, and retailers like Smith's Food & Drug.

Already, four to five Utah County producers have closed their dairies in the past year due to increasing urbanization and other industry challenges, said Jason Bateman, Brad's brother and a board member of Dairy Farmers of Utah, a nonprofit group representing more than 300 dairy farmers statewide.

Dairy industry's woes.

Skyrocketing crude oil prices have driven up operating costs for many dairy farmers, but milk prices have remained low, pinching revenues, Jason Bateman said.

"This past year, our energy costs of propane and diesel have gone through the roof, as well as our equipment and fertilizer costs," he said. "We're now paying $53,000 a month in fuel surcharges for freight shipping into and out of our farm, which we can't pass on to the processors. Our feed costs have jumped because corn prices have increased dramatically due to growing ethanol demand."

The last thing we want to do is put dairy farmers out of business, Associated Food's Berube said.

"We didn't invent rbST-free milk. Consumers across the country want more organic products. The government wants consumers to have more information through better labeling," he said. "Our suppliers, Meadow Gold and Layton Dairy, began asking for milk without rbST in March. That will become the normal mode of production as demand for organic food increases."

Milk produced without the synthetic hormone generally costs 30 cents to 35 cents more per hundredweight, according to Steve Frischknecht, a board director of Utah Dairy Commission and secretary of the United Dairy Association in Chicago.

That type of milk costs more in part because cows produce less without the hormone.

But this shouldn't affect the cost of Associated Food's milk, Berube said.

"We're not charging a premium on rbST-free milk. But we've heard some other retailers using this to get up to $1 more profit," he said.

The grocer co-op now offers rbST-free milk only in one-gallon and half-gallon bottles under the Western Family, Meadow Gold and Shur Savings brands.

Nonetheless, these trends are worrying dairy farmers like the Batemans.

"If we lose an advantage like rbST, which helps us produce milk cheaper, it's like taking money out of our pocket," Jason Bateman said. "More dairy farmers will go out of business because they'll be less profitable."

Utah County now has 16 dairy producers in Genola, West Mountain, Spanish Fork, Springville and Provo, down from about 20 a year ago.

Grace Leong can be reached at 344-2910 or gleong@heraldextra.com.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.

On Mar. 16, 2008 Cassie Amber Barton, of Box Elder County, was crowned Utah Dairy Princess at the 55th annual Utah Dairy Scholarship Pageant at the Dixie Center in St. George. Her attendants are Shannon Griffiths, Salem, Utah County, and Sky Lynn Sidwell, Morgan County. The new royalty will promote the dairy industry and provide nutrition education in schools throughout the year.

Shannon Griffiths was also voted Miss Congeniality by the pageant contestants. The award is given to the woman showing the most warmth, friendliness and helpfulness to others during the pageant.

Barton currently attends Utah State University, majoring in Pre-Med. She is a reader for a blind student, loves reading and being active and involved in her community. In high school, she was valedictorian, president of 4-H Teen Council, a youth volunteer and cheerleader. As state Dairy Princess she received a $2,000 scholarship to assist in her educational pursuits. Her platform is "Make 3-A-Day the American Way." She is the daughter of Leonard and Shannon Barton.

The co-attendants, equal in position and responsibility, each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Shannon Griffiths attends BYU-Idaho and is pursuing a career in information systems with a minor in health science and culinary arts. Her platform is "Think Your Drink." She is the daughter of Steve and Gina Griffiths. Sky Lynn Sidwell is a University of Utah student, majoring in philosophy and psychology. Her platform is "Dairy's Role in Maintaining a Healthy Weight." She is the daughter of Cameron and Kay Sidwell.

The 2007 Dairy Princess Royalty were selected from 9 county princesses, based on knowledge of the dairy industry, personal interviews, physical fitness and their response to on-stage questions. Pageant participants must be of high moral character, maintain a 2.8 GPA and be a single woman between the ages of 17 and 25.

During their reign, the women will tour the state to educate Utahns about the dairy industry and general nutrition. They also promote dairy products, good nutrition and living healthy lifestyles, serving as positive role models for Utah youth.

Spanish Fork Press

Cassie Amber Barton, of Brigham City, was crowned Utah Dairy Princess at the 55th annual Utah Dairy Scholarship Pageant at the Dixie Center in St. George.

Box Elder News Journal

The dairy industry honored Reed Balls for his life-long service to agriculture at its 55th Annual Dairy Convention on March 16 in St. George.

"Throughout his career, Reed worked with government officials, financial institutions and industry leaders to help make agriculture a leading industry in Utah," said Karen Koncar, Utah Dairy Council general manager. "His dedication to the dairy industry is shown through his tireless work for the Dairy Advisory Committee and Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom."

Balls' love of agriculture stems from his youth, when he worked on his grandfather's Soda Springs, Idaho, farm. He went on to work for U&I Sugar Company and Farm Bureau Insurance Company. In September 1986, he joined Utah Farm Bureau Federation as vice president of member relations and director of organization and was elected as officer of the corporation in 1997. He recently became executive secretary for Utah Wool Growers Association.

The Spectrum

Dairy Farmers of Utah has hired Richter7, a Salt Lake City-based advertising and public relations agency, to promote the collective in Utah, Las Vegas and Reno. Richter7 will be in charge of the company's overall marketing plan, which includes media, public relations, website redesign and marketing projects, according to a release from the agency.

"Our primary focus is creating awareness for the 3-A-Day campaign in the Utah and Nevada markets," said Karen Koncar, general manager. "We believe our partnership with Richter7 will give us the creative edge to catch the attention of consumers."

Meredith Deliso
Advertising Age

Richter7, a Salt Lake City-based advertising and public relations agency, has been hired by Dairy Farmers of Utah to promote dairy products in Utah, Las Vegas and Reno.

"Our primary focus is creating awareness for the 3-A-Day campaign in the Utah and Nevada markets," said Karen Koncar, general manager. "We believe our partnership with Richter7 will give us the creative edge to catch the attention of consumers."

Richter7 will initially generate an overall marketing plan, including media, public relations, website redesign and marketing projects."We are excited to be on board with the Dairy," said Dave Newbold, Richter7 president. "The campaign is important for all ages, and we are pleased to be a part of it."

Established in 1971, Richter7 is nationally recognized for creative excellence that positively affects the bottom line of its clients, and was named "Best of State" for advertising agencies for the past four years.

View the article on Connect's website.

Richter7, a Salt Lake City based advertising and public relations agency, has been hired by the Dairy Farmers of Utah to promote products in Utah, Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.

"Our primary focus is creating awareness for the 3-A-Day [dairy consumption] campaign." said Karen Koncar, the dairy group's general manager.

"We believe our partnership with Richter7 will give us the creative edge to catch the attention of consumers."

Established in 1971, Richter7 was named "Best of State" for advertising agencies during the past four years.

Dawn House
Salt Lake Tribune

Dairy producers, through their promotion investment, are again teaming up with Subway® Restaurants, along with Shamrock Farms, to promote consuming 3 servings of dairy a day as part of a healthy diet. The campaign will help drive sales and increase demand by promoting the availability of milk in convenient, single-serve bottles at the chain's more than 20,000 restaurants across the country.

The campaign celebrates the 10-year weight-loss anniversary of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle and focuses on healthy eating, physical fitness, childhood obesity, and the importance of drinking milk.

Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff program, collaborated with Subway and Shamrock Farms to develop a "got milk?®/milk mustache" ad featuring Fogle with a Subway sandwich in one hand and a single-serve bottle of milk in the other. The ad runs in People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, US Weekly, In-Style, Sports Illustrated, and other magazines through the end of March. In addition to the media advertising, funded by Subway and Shamrock Farms, the ad will be featured on in-store signs as part of a larger marketing effort to promote and sell single-serve bottles of milk at Subway.

"Working with foodservice partners, such as Subway, helps dairy producers form lifelong dairy consumers by making milk the drink of choice for today's busy families," said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chairman of DMI. "Subway and Shamrock Farms are not only providing a consumer- and kid-friendly milk product, they're also helping us promote milk as an important part of an active, healthy lifestyle." Rovey added that partnerships are key to the dairy checkoff's strategic plan as it helps extend dairy producers' promotion investment and increases sales of U.S.-produced dairy products and ingredients.

 

DAIRY FARMERS OF UTAH SUPPORT NEW STUDY

AND URGE SCHOOLS TO KEEP FLAVORED MILK IN SCHOOLS

 

Salt Lake City, UT – April 1, 2008 – The Dairy Farmers of Utah stand behind a study released today in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, discoveringthat children who drink flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients and have a lower or comparable body mass index (BMI – a measure of body fat) than children who don't consume milk.

 

"Nutrients found in milk are very important to children's growth and overall health. Through this research conducted by ENVIRON, we are reminded that children who drink milk, including plain and flavored milk, have higher intakes of many nutrients that are low in children's diets," said Karen Koncar, Dairy Farmers of Utah general manager. "These children have lower BMIs compared to those children who don't drink milk, and limiting flavored milks in schools and elsewhere will reduce the intake of essential nutrients provided by milk."

 

The study compared nutrient intakes and BMIs among 7,557 U.S. children and adolescents ages 2-18 years drinking flavored milk (with or without plain milk), exclusively plain milk and no milk. All comparisons were adjusted for the amount of calories reported as well as age allowing for differences to be examined based on equal consumption of calories and age distributions. Results showed milk drinkers (flavored and plain) had significantly higher intakes of vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium than non-milk drinkers. In addition, BMI measures of milk drinkers were comparable to or lower than measures of non-milk drinkers. Intake of added sugars did not differ between flavored milk drinkers and non-milk drinkers. Among females 12-18 years of age, average calcium intakes by flavored milk drinkers and exclusively plain milk drinkers were nearly double the calcium intakes of non-milk drinkers.

 

Rachel Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont and a co-author of the study, noted, "Intakes of added sugars were comparable between flavored milk drinkers and non-milk drinkers, confirming that the inclusion of flavored milk in the diet does not lead to significantly higher added sugar intakes by children and adolescents."

 

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage children to enjoy three age-appropriate servings of low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt each day. [1] Currently, less than half of children ages 2-8 and only about one-quarter of children ages 9-19 meet the recommended dairy food intake.[2] Flavored milks can provide part of the solution for meeting these recommendations. According to the Dietary Guidelines, small amounts of sugars added to nutrient-rich foods, such as low-fat and fat-free dairy products, may increase a person's intake of such foods by enhancing the taste of these products, thus improving nutrient intake without contributing excessive calories.¹ In addition, the School Milk Pilot Test found that school milk consumption increased by 37 percent through specific improvements such as plastic packaging, one or more additional flavors, and better refrigeration and merchandising.[3]

 

"Children's health is a top priority for the dairy industry and this research proves both flavored and plain milk should be an important part of children's daily diets," said Koncar. "Many children are not getting the nutrients they need, and consuming low-fat or fat-free flavored milk can aid in meeting there daily recommendations."

 

The Dairy Farmers of Utah represent the interests of nearly 400 dairy farmers in Utah. The non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting healthy products produced by the dairy industry. For more information on the dairy industry or milk's nutritional benefits, visit www.utahdairycouncil.com or the Dairy Council national website www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.

# # #

 

Q1 Nutrition and Health News Alert

Vol. 12 No. 1

January/February/March 2008

What's New in this Issue

–      Calcium + Protein = Strong Bones

–      Will Drinking Milk Help Girls Breathe Easier?

–      Calcium and Beyond: Dairy Foods and Fruits and Vegetables May Help with Bone Fractures and Hypertension

–      FAST FACT: American Academy of Pediatrics Revised Statement on Pediatric Allergies is Good News for Moms Who Love Milk

–      Just in Time for Mother's Day:  MyPyramid Plan for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

 

 

Calcium + Protein = Strong Bones

 Mom always said drink your milk for strong bones.  Now a new study shows that it's the calcium and protein in milk that helps prevent osteoporosis.

 

Recently published research in the Journal of Nutrition suggest that dietary protein helps build bone mass in teen girls when they consume higher intakes of calcium, but has no effect on bone mass in those with lower calcium intakes.  This longitudinal study included 133 young adults with a mean age of 23 years at adulthood that participated in the Canadian Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study (PBMAS) from 1991-1997 and 2003-2006. Assessments were taken of total body bone mineral content and total body bone mineral density along with dietary intake using 24 -hour recalls. Results showed that protein intake had a beneficial effect on the bone mass of females at peri-adolescence or early adulthood consuming greater than 1000 mg of calcium each day. However young females consuming lower amounts of calcium did not see a significant effect of protein on bone mass. The authors of the study state that their findings suggest that protein intake has a beneficial effect on bone development during a critical time in females bone building years and that adequate calcium intake is necessary to see this effect. The authors report that milk products are the main source of dietary calcium and are also the second main food source of protein in the Canadian diet.  They also note that in addition to calcium, milk provides potassium and phosphorus, further enhancing the bone building effect of dietary protein.

 

Vatanparast H, et al. The Effects of Dietary Protein on Bone Mineral Mass in Young Adults May Be Modulated by Adolescent Calcium Intake. Journal of Nutrition. 2007; 137: 2674-2679.

 

{Scientific synopsis provided by Barbara Baron, MS, RD, CDN, ADADC, Inc.}

 

 

Will drinking milk help girls breathe easier?

 Researchers find for the first time that infrequent milk consumption and being overweight is associated with asthma in young girls. 

 

Researchers at the University of Manitoba, studying the relationship between asthma, frequency of milk consumption and being overweight, found that girls with asthma are more likely to be overweight and consume milk infrequently when compared to non-asthmatic girls.  This case-controlled study examined 246 asthmatic and 477 non-asthmatic children between the ages of 8-10 years. Researchers found a significant association between infrequent milk consumption and asthma in girls.  The odds of having asthma increased 3.6 times for girls who were both infrequent milk consumers and overweight, when compared to girls without asthma. This association was not found in boys.  The researchers concluded that although more research is warranted, infrequent milk consumption in addition to being overweight may increase risk for asthma in girls.

 

Mai XM, et al. Infrequent Milk Consumption Plus Being Overweight May Have Great Risk for Asthma in Girls. Allergy. 2007; 62: 1295-1301.

 

{Scientific synopsis provided by Carolyn Suerth Hudson, RD, LD, Midwest Dairy Council}

 

 

Calcium and Beyond: Dairy foods and fruits and vegetables may help with bone fractures and hypertension

Consumption of dairy foods has benefits beyond bone health, including possibly lowering the risk of high blood pressure.

 

Researchers from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom (UK) looked at the association of dietary calcium and other potential bone building nutrients – protein, vitamin D, vitamin C, retinol, carotene, potassium, and magnesium - with the risk of fracture rates. Lifestyle and food frequency questionnaires were completed at baseline and again at 5 years in this large prospective study including 34,696 British men and women between the ages of 20-89 years. Results showed an increase in fracture risk of women whose daily calcium intake was below 525 mg per day when compared to women with a calcium intake of at least 1200 mg per day, with the greatest risk seen in women under 50 years old. The researchers did not observe an association between any of the other nutrients analyzed and fracture risk. A recent research review published in the Journal of Nutrition, indicates that increased calcium as well as potassium and protein intakes can positively affect bone health. Both articles highlight the importance of calcium's role in bone health and emphasize a calcium-rich diet. The authors in the Journal of Nutrition review call out the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet, for promoting optimal bone health, as it is a calcium-rich diet that emphasizes low-fat dairy foods, fruits and vegetables.

 

Key T, et al. Calcium, diet and fracture risk: a prospective study of 1898 incident fractures among 34 696 British women and men. Public Health Nutrition. 2007; 10:1314-1320.

 

Tylavksy F, et al. The Importance of Calcium, Potassium, and Acid-Base Homeostasis in Bone Health and Osteoporosis Prevention. Journal of Nutrition. 2008; 138: 164S-165S.

 

{Scientific synopsis provided by Barbara Baron, MS, RD, CDN, ADADC, Inc.}

 

 

Fast Facts

American Academy of Pediatrics Revised Statement on Pediatric Allergies is Good News for Mom's Who Love Milk

A new report by the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concludes that it may be unnecessary for pregnant and lactating women to restrict foods like cow's milk, eggs and peanuts from their diets to prevent their infants from developing atopic diseases such as eczema, asthma and food allergies. The clinical report, which was published in the January issue of Pediatrics, states that there is a lack of evidence to show that maternal dietary restriction of potentially allergenic foods is effective in preventing the development of atopic disease in their children, with the possible exception of atopic eczema.  Evidence does support the finding that exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months decreases the incidence of atopic dermatitis (eczema), cow milk allergy and wheezing in the first few years of childhood.  The AAP also recommends that solid foods should not be introduced before four to six months of age and states that there is no convincing evidence indicating that delaying their introduction any longer would prevent the development of atopic disease.

 

Greer FR, et al. Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children:  The Role of Maternal Dietary Restrictions, Breastfeeding, Timing of Introduction of Complementary Foods and Hydrolyzed Formulas. Pediatrics. 2008; 121: 183-191.

 

{Scientific synopsis provided by Carolyn Suerth Hudson, RD,LD, Midwest Dairy Council}

 

Just in time for Mother's Day: MyPyramid Plan for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

The USDA recently added a new website to compliment the popular and user-friendly MyPyramid.gov, and is titled MyPyramid For Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. This site provides new and expectant moms valuable information on nutritional needs, weight gain, dietary supplements, food safety, special health needs and much more. After entering personal information such as age, due date, height, pre-pregnancy weight and physical activity, the tool provides the user with a personalized eating plan, outlined by trimester of pregnancy or stage of breastfeeding. Similar to the MyPyramid site for the general public, the MyPyramid Plan For Pregnancy and Breastfeeding is based on the USDA's 2005 Dietary Guidelines and emphasizes consuming adequate servings of the food groups to encourage:  whole grains, fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy foods. 

 

www.Mypyramid.gov

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Nutrient-Rich During a Nutrition Recession

Find more bang for your bite with nutrient-rich foods

Salt Lake City, UT – April 30, 2008– Nutrition experts across Utah are empowering people to make their calories count more by choosing nutrient-rich foods. More enduring than a trendy diet, the Nutrient Rich Foods approach is a fundamentally different way to define healthy foods – an evolution from what foods or nutrients to avoid and what consumers should include. The Nutrient Rich Foods approach helps Utahns follow the recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid to help people "get more nutrition from their calories" and build healthier overall diets1, 2.

"It's so important that people adopt healthy lifestyles and not trendy diets," said Rachel Jones, a Utah R.D. "The Nutrient Rich Foods approach is just that, a total food and total diet approach to enjoying foods and living well."

With the Nutrient Rich Foods approach, you learn to choose foods that have more vitamins and minerals with fewer calories, helping you feel good and live well. An easy way to start living nutrient-rich right now is to choose foods located around the perimeter of your grocery store:
Brightly colored fruits and 100% fruit juice;
Vibrantly colored vegetables and potatoes;
Whole, fortified and fiber-rich grain foods;
Low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt; and
Lean meats, skinless poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts.

According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, most adults are not consuming adequate amounts of certain vitamins and nutrients1. At the same time, many Americans are overweight.

"It is clear, Americans are experiencing a nutrition recession by eating more and more calories but obtaining less nutrients," said Jones. "Consuming more nutrient-rich foods that are packed with lots of nutrients and fewer calories is the nutrition stimulus package we need to get back on track."

Now is the time to balance our nutrition budgets by selecting foods that provide more vitamins and nutrients per bite. The Dairy Farmers of Utah, along with the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition, is urging Americans to get back to basics by choosing more nutrient-rich foods.

The Dairy Farmers of Utah represent the interests of nearly 400 dairy farmers in Utah. The non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting healthy products produced by the dairy industry. For more information on nutrient rich dairy options, visit www.utahdairycouncil.com or the Dairy Council national website www.NationalDairyCouncil.org. Also visit www.NutrientRichFoods.org for more information.

Sources:
1. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005 (6th Edition). www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines.
2. MyPyramid.gov. www.mypyramid.gov.

###

Q2 Nutrition and Health News Alert

Vol. 12 No. 2
(April/May/June 2008)

For more information, please contact:
Nutrition and Health News Bureau,
312/240-2880 or
E-mail: ndc@dairyinformation.com

What ís New in this Issue

Want a Great Smile?
Brush, FlossÖEat Yogurt

DASH to Dairy to Lower Blood Pressure

FAST FACT:
New Online Menu Planner Helps Consumers Build Better Diets

REMINDER:
June is National Dairy Month

Want a Great Smile?
Brush, FlossÖEat Yogurt

Findings of a New Study Indicate Eating Fermented Dairy Foods, like Yogurt, May Contribute to Gum Health

Researchers in Japan found that daily intake of dairy foods containing lactic acid, such as yogurt, is associated with a lower prevalence of severe periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss in non-smoking adults. Periodontal examinations and dietary surveys were analyzed from 942 Hisayama residents, age 40 to 79 years. The participants dairy intake was examined and classified into four groups: milk (low-fat and full-fat fluid milk), cheese, lactic acid foods (yogurt) and other dairy products (fat-free milk and coffee creamer). Those with the highest intake of lactic acid foods had a 60 percent lower risk for generalized deep periodontal disease and a 50 percent lower risk for tooth loss than those who ate no lactic acid foods.

Shimazaki Y, et al. Intake of dairy products and periodontal disease: The Hisayama Study. Journal of Periodontology. 2008;79:131-137.

{Scientific synopsis provided by Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LD, CHES Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc.}

DASH to Dairy to Lower Blood Pressure

Low-Fat Dairy is Part of a Winning Team in the Blood Pressure Battle

New research adds to the body of evidence that dairy foods may indeed affect blood pressure and overall heart health. Findings from the Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial to Prevent Heart Disease (OmniHeart) suggest that consumers have several options when it comes to eating a heart-healthy diet. Study participants with higher than normal blood pressure followed three different diets during the course of the study: 1) a carbohydrate-rich diet, 2) a higher protein diet and 3) a higher unsaturated fat diet. Each of the three diets met parameters of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet previously proven as effective in lowering blood pressure, and met the major recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing low-fat dairy foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. All three dietary patterns led to reduced blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and reduced estimated coronary heart disease risk.

A second study, published in Hypertension, analyzed diet supplement records from 4,680 men and women (ages 40-59) from Japan, China, UK and US. Results showed that dietary phosphorus, a nutrient found in dairy and other foods, was associated with reduced blood pressure. In addition to phosphorus, dietary calcium and magnesium were also shown to lower blood pressure significantly.

Both studies suggest that dairy foods and the nutrients they contain can be part of a heart-healthy diet.

Swain J, et al. Characteristics of the diet patterns tested in the Optimal Micronutrient Intake Trial to Prevent Heart Disease (OmniHeart): options for a heart-healthy diet. Journal of the American Dietetic Association.2008;108:257-265.

Elliott P, et al. Dietary phosphorus and blood pressure: international study of macro- and micro-nutrients and blood pressure. Hypertension. 2008;51:669-675.

{Scientific synopsis provided by Sarah Hess, MS, RD, LDN, New England Dairy & Food Council}

Fast Fact: New Online Menu Planner Helps Consumers Build Better Diets

The new MyPyramid Menu Planner ñ a free online nutrition guidance tool ñ makes it easier for busy moms and those who are health conscious to plan healthier menus based on recommendations from the MyPyramid food guidance system and the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Based on information provided by the user, the tool provides personalized and interactive information such as menus and goal setting worksheets. To use the Planner, visit www.MyPyramid.gov and click on the MyPyramid Menu Planner link.

{Scientific synopsis provided by Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LDN, CHES, Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc.}

Reminder: June is National Dairy Month

To celebrate National Dairy Month, visit www.3aday.org to find delicious recipes, tips and tools, and sign up to receive the monthly Get 3! e-newsletter.

This issue was edited by Jennifer Meyer, RD, LMNT, ADAC of Nebraska Inc. and Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association.

The National Dairy CouncilÆ was founded in 1915 and conducts nutrition education and nutrition research programs through national, state and regional Dairy Council organizations, on behalf of Americaís dairy farmers.

To schedule an interview with an expert, call 312/240-2880 or send an e-mail to ndc@dairyinformation.com.

For information on nutrition research, check out www.nationaldairycouncil.org.

# # #

RADIO DISNEY DAYS AT THE GALLIVAN CENTER
Thursday, June 19
The Dairy Farmers of Utah joined The Gallivan Center and Radio Disney AM 910 for the "Ultimate Summer Field Trip," giving away free creamies, 3-A-Day magnets, stickers, and cow pencils. Complete with Radio Disney's ‘Move It!' Tour, the Dairy Farmers of Utah had over 800 visitors to the booth, educating them about dairy products and cooling them off with an ice cold creamie.