In defence of dairy
published: Friday | March 11, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

DR. VENDRYES, in his column 'Ounce Of Prevention' writes: "Milk labelled as 2 per cent really gets 34 per cent of its calories from fat. The reason the dairy people lie and call it 2 per cent fat is that they sell more milk if the people believe it is a low-fat product rather than a high-fat product. A blatant fraud on the consumer."

In defence of dairy, let me explain that the name 2 per cent milk is given to distinguish it from whole or full cream milk that has more than 3.6 per cent fat. Almost half the fat has been removed. Nonetheless, 2 per cent milk cannot and does not carry the low-fat nomenclature that requires less than 3 grams fat per serving.

The rule applies to all packaged food, not just milk. Grams of fat per serving and calories from fat are printed on every label. 2 per cent milk is not sold in Jamaica but 1per cent LOWFAT milk, which is available, has 2.5 grams of fat per serving and gets 18 per cent of its calories from fat.

I am, etc.,

DAVID MCNEILL

mcneill.com@usa.net