Although 82% of respondents agree that dairy products are good for children, many are unsure where exactly dairy ‘fits’ into their diet. Health perceptions of dairy differ widely, with 65% of respondents claiming dairy products are not bad for their health because they are ‘natural’. Interestingly enough, women are more likely than men to acknowledge the negative effects dairy can have on one’s health. 37% of women in the UK try to stray away from dairy intake as it may affect their cholesterol levels, compared to 26% of men.
In the same report, milk is considered nutritious by 65% of respondents and 6 out of 10 believe that it is both healthy and natural. Cheese is more likely to have a connotation with words such as tasty (74%) or traditional (59%) and versatile (50%), rather than indulgent.
Yoghurt is rarely viewed as unhealthy, with only 5% of people associating it with the word fattening and 71% seeing it as healthy.
Commenting on the report, James McCoy, Research Director for YouGov SixthSense, said “Cheese, milk and yoghurt have benefited from the lasting perception that they are ‘traditional’ and ‘natural’ and are subsequently less likely to be seen as fattening or bad for your health. Cream is predominantly seen as being a treat, synonymous with indulgence.”
In an era when consumers are increasingly concerned about what goes into their food, milk benefits from being seen as a natural product, with 60% describing it as natural and 29% of respondents associating milk with childhood. McCoy continues, “Brands such as Cravendale are trying to exploit these trends by revamping their packaging to emphasise the ‘purity’ of their milk. This trend is unlikely to be diminished any time soon. More dairy companies are emphasizing the natural properties of their products with words like pro-biotic and pre-biotic adorning the front of packaging in dairy aisles everywhere.” Dairy should always be a part of our daily food intake, and as long as we keep it to a smart limit, we shouldn’t be negatively affected by it.
Nigel Denby comments:
I see "dairy phobia" every day in my work- parents worrying that dairy foods are responsible for evey childhood ailment from eczema to asthma, women certain that diary foods are laden with fat, and anyone who is anyone needing to have a dairy intolerance as if it's a fashion accesory.
The simple fact is that many children and young women are falling way below their recommended daily intake of calcium and this can have serious implications for long term bone health. There are of course children and adults who have true intolerances or allergies to cows milk- these should always be diagnosed by a proper allergy clinic or via a Registered Dietitian. If alternative Non dairy products such as soya milks and yoghurts are used it's vital that calcium enriched varieties are selected to maintian nutreint intakes.
