A few weeks ago I joined TV’s Dr Hilary Jones at an event at the House of Commons to celebrate the role of school milk in supporting childhood health.
Dr Jones is the spokesperson for the School and Nursery Milk Alliance, which works to highlight the health benefits of milk in schools. The organisation presented MPs with new research it has produced on the number of children who are already suffering from obesity or dental decay at the age of five. I was also able to sample the fresh, chilled milk which children today receive, helping establish lifelong healthy habits.
I am so pleased the School and Nursery Milk Alliance (SNMA) have held this event in Parliament to show what great work they do in encouraging schools to provide milk for their students and showing their new research. In my previous role as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dairy I worked and met with SNMA, they are a great organisation which works to better the health of all children across the UK. I look forward to hearing more success stories from them in the years to come.
Dr Hilary Jones, Spokesperson for the School and Nursery Milk Alliance, said:
“The national figures for childhood obesity and dental decay are shocking. But our research shows that in many deprived areas the story is even worse. Evidence shows that ensuring children are regularly drinking milk can help address these problems. I’m delighted that Heather Wheeler MP was able to join us and to support us in our call to ensure that access to milk in school continues to be available, including for those children who currently benefit from the EU School Milk Scheme.
(This was originally distributed as a Press Release).