Dairy advocate and registered dietitian Clancy Harrison recently responded on behalf of dairy farmers to an animal rights group’s disparaging opinion piece published in The Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Harrison defended dairy’s many health benefits for children in response to the letter that encouraged keeping whole milk off school menus. ADA North East continually works closely with respected nutrition experts who support the important role dairy plays in good nutrition.

Read this response from Harrison

As an expert in food, diet, nutrition and health, I’m compelled to respond to some misinformation shared in a letter earlier this week. Milk and dairy products play an important role in our children’s health, and as a Registered Dietitian, I regularly recommend real cow’s milk to my clients.

That’s because all cow’s milk (whole, skim or low-fat) offers a unique and powerful combination of nutrients, like vitamin A, Vitamin D, zinc, selenium and protein that are essential to a healthy immune system. It’s an affordable source of high-quality protein and helps improve bone health, especially in children and adolescents

The 2020 – 2025 U.S Dietary Guidelines for Americans point to ‘real dairy’ as an important component of our overall diets. When making a choice, consider these three points:

  1. Real milk has no added sugar like many milk alternatives.
  2. Real milk’s ingredient list is short—simply milk, along with vitamins D and A.
  3. Real milk is a nutrient powerhouse with 13 essential macro and micronutrients and eight times more protein than some other plant-based beverages.

In summary, look to nutrition professionals for healthy-eating advice. You can locate a list of registered dietitian nutritionists at eatright.org