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School children's acceptance of fat‐free, low added sugars flavored milk
Author(s) -
Yon Bethany A,
Johnson Rachel K
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1065.7
Subject(s) - medicine , whole milk , food science , agricultural science , geography , biology
USDA requires flavored milk (FM) in schools to be fat‐free. The IOM report on competitive foods recommends limitations on added sugars in FM. As most elementary children choose FM, it is important to know how well children accept FM meeting these standards. Two southern school districts using fat‐free FM were enrolled. District milk shipment data were collected for three years (2010–2012) as added sugars were reduced. Plate waste studies were conducted each spring in one elementary school (grades 3–5) per district. District A's shipment of FM and unflavored milk (urban; 88% eligible for free/reduced meals) increased (p<0.001). In 2011, District B (rural; 61% eligible for free/reduced meals) removed FM varieties other than chocolate and changed from plastic bottles to paper cartons. While milk shipment varied each year, shipment of FM increased slightly (p=0.08). FM consumption was highly skewed, thus categorized as a binary variable (0–7oz, >;7oz). The proportion of children in District A consuming >;7 oz of FM increased from 37% in 2010, to 44% in 2011 and 59% in 2012 (p<0.01). Whereas the proportion of children consuming >;7 oz of FM in District B decreased from 70% in 2010 to 54% in 2011 and 2012 (p=0.03). Consistent with earlier research, children drink more milk from plastic bottles and when offered a variety. Milk acceptance may be influenced by other factors such as SES. Funding: USDA Hatch and the Dairy Research Institute.