Posted on: Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Got milk? Make it low fat, state says
Advertiser Staff
A six-week campaign aimed at persuading Hawai'i families to drink low-fat milk was launched yesterday by Gov. Linda Lingle, the Department of Health and local milk industry officials.
Statewide, about 62.7 percent of the population drinks milk. Of those who drink milk, two-thirds drink whole milk or 2 percent milk. Health officials say it is better to drink low-fat milk, defined as either 1 percent or skim milk.
One cup of whole milk contains 8 grams of total fat and 5 grams of saturated fat, about the same as five slices of bacon or a luncheon meat musubi, while the same amount of 2 percent milk contains 5 grams of fat and 3 grams of saturated fat. In contrast, one cup of 1 percent milk has 2.5 grams of fat and 1.5 grams of saturated fat, while skim milk contains no fat.
Lingle, a skim milk drinker, said reducing saturated fat is important because it may decrease blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. An excess of saturated fat may also contribute to cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Health officials said most people cannot tell the difference between 2 percent milk and 1 percent milk, or between 1 percent milk and skim milk. A public service advertising campaign appearing on television, radio and TheBus will encourage people to drink low-fat milk and point out the negligible difference in taste.
The state, in conjunction with Meadow Gold and Foremost dairies, will also hold taste tests at various locations across O'ahu beginning this weekend. For a schedule of test sites and other information, see the DOH Web site HealthyHawaii.com. The program is part of the Start Living Healthy Initiative, which gets its money from the state's share of tobacco settlement funds.
The low-fat milk recommendation does not apply to children under 2. Doctors believe the additional fat in whole milk is necessary for the proper growth and development of children between 1 and 2 years of age. For children under 1, breast milk is recommended.
