Celebrating Milk 2017

PRESS RELEASE BY DR CHRIS VAN DIJK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MILK PRODUCERS’ ORGANISATION

For immediate release

Raise a glass to milk………

For the 17th consecutive year one of the most natural, healthy and versatile products will be acknowledged when World Milk Day is celebrated in more than 40 countries around the world! The Milk Producers’ Organisation participated in World Milk Day for the first time last year and made use of the opportunity to emphasise the nutritional value and affordability of milk.

Why we sing milk’s praises

For many decades, dairy industries world-wide have played an important role in helping to feed people. Increasing recognition is being given to the role dairy plays in our daily diet and how it contributes to a healthy lifestyle regardless of a person’s age. A large number of international peer review papers clearly illustrate how milk and milk products help people meet their nutritional needs, lower the risk of certain diseases, promote sports recovery and muscle-building and contribute to healthy ageing.

Milk and milk products can be part of a luxury treat for some people or an important source of dietary energy, protein and fat for others.

World Milk Day

The first World Milk Day was held in 2001 and since then many countries throughout the world have joined in the celebrations, with the number growing each year.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), World Milk Day provides the ideal opportunity to focus the “attention on milk and to publicise activities connected with milk and the milk industry. The fact that many countries choose to do this on the same day, lends additional importance to individual national celebrations and shows that milk has global importance.” The FAO decided that World Milk Day should be held on 1 June because a number of countries were already celebrating their own national milk day on or around this time. While most countries hold their celebrations on 1 June, some choose to hold them a week or so before or after this date. The MPO decided not to be bound to a specific day and celebrates milk from June to August.

In 2016, World Milk Day was celebrated in more than 40 countries. Activities included sports events such as milk-themed marathons and family runs, milking demonstrations and farm visits, activities at schools, concerts, conferences and seminars, competitions and a variety of events aimed at promoting the value of milk and milk products and highlighting the important role played by the dairy industry in the economy of countries.

Celebrate milk the South African way

The MPO celebrated World Milk Day in 2016 at a Farmer’s Day in the Eastern Cape on 31 May, at Jasmyn Farm Stall at Hartebeespoort Dam on 5 June and at schools in KwaZulu-Natal on 31 May and in Bloemfontein in the Free State on 31 July.

This year the MPO plans, among others, the following festivities:

  • World Milk Day celebrations were already held on 24 May at Willow Valley Dairy in Cullinan, Gauteng. A group of school children were informed where milk comes from, taken on a tour of the dairy while cows were being milked and each received a bottle of milk and a poster illustrating the story of milk from the farm to the fridge to take home. Milk SA’s Consumer Education Project provided the posters for the children and additional educational material for the teachers.
  • School visits in Kwa-Zulu Natal by MPO staff, dairy farmers and milk processors where the important role of milk in the daily diet will be conveyed in a fun-filled manner and milk distributed to each pupil.
  • A visit to Clover’s Visitor Centre in Clayville for an educational tour and tasting of dairy products.
  • MPO staff celebrated World Milk Day on 30 June 2017 by wearing white and raising their glasses in a toast to milk.

The MPO would like to invite everyone to celebrate milk with the rest of the world!

CHEERS…TO MILK!!

Inquiries: Barbara Bieldt, e-mail address: barbara@mpo.co.za, 083 235 2629