Little interest in school milk

60 percent decrease within ten years

School milk is becoming less and less important as a nutritional component for children and young people: according to current figures from the Federal Ministry of Consumer Affairs, consumption of school milk fell by almost seven percent in 2003 compared to the previous year to around 50.500 tons. Almost 20.000 tons of this is accounted for by the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 1994, school milk consumption has fallen nationwide by over 60 percent. The share of sold school milk in the drinking milk produced in Germany is less than one percent. According to the evaluation and information service for nutrition, agriculture and forestry (aid), Bonn, the decline is partly due to the reductions in aid in 1994 and 2001, but also partly to the organization in the schools.

Until 1977, the so-called school milk subsidy scheme was a purely national program to promote the sale of milk and milk products to schoolchildren. Since then, the European Union has increasingly taken over the financing; today the aid comes 100 percent from EU funds. Each 0,25 liter portion of milk is subsidized with 5,8 cents. Milk, mixed milk drinks and yoghurt are funded, one portion per child per day.

The school milk program was initially intended primarily to support the sale of milk and milk products. Not least because of the discussions about a dramatically increasing risk of osteoporosis in the German population, the school milk program gained additional importance. In view of the fact that more and more children are going to school without breakfast, school milk plays an important role.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]