The global dairy industry must act to avoid dairy being characterised as a ‘bad protein’, industry leaders warned this week.
Speaking at the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit in Belfast, Dr Jaap Evers, IDF leader global standards, said: “Dairy protein is a natural, high quality protein. It is imperative that we get the message to consumers that it is an integral part of a sustainable diet. We do not want to reach a stage where consumers are given the message that from an environmental perspective there is ‘green’ i.e. good protein and ‘red’ i.e. bad protein and that dairy is somehow a ‘red’ protein.
“There is a wealth of scientific research that should strengthen dairy’s role as an integral element of healthy consumers’ diets. The IDF will soon undertake a new research project on protein.”
Dr Nico van Belzen, IDF director general, said: “The IDF remains committed to playing its part in delivering high quality science that addresses many topics including nutrition, food safety and animal welfare. Another element of IDF’s forthcoming work is the development on guidelines focused on the optimal use of antimicrobial agents.”
Photo: Industry messages on improving communications, from this week’s Belfast Summit