Impact of Milk Packaging Changes on Children's Milk Consumption

Abstract

Children's declining milk consumption may be related to fewer opportunities to consume milk. Milk is offered with school meals, thus it is important to know how well children consume milk at school. More schools now offer milk in paper cartons versus plastic bottles to decrease costs. Research shows school children prefer milk in plastic bottles. Plate waste studies were conducted in one Vermont elementary, middle and high school prior to package changes (plastic, spring 2013), when packaging changed (paper, fall 2013) and spring 2014. Milk shipment data were collected for all district schools (n=8). The overall percent of students selecting milk with school lunch did not change. A smaller percent of high school students selected milk (26%) compared to elementary (87%) and middle school (63%). Mean milk consumption was 5.9oz +SE 0.29 (plastic), 5.6oz +SE 0.14 and 5.3oz +SE 0.16 (paper). Data were highly skewed and categorized as a binary variable (0‐7oz, >7oz). The overall proportion of students consuming >7oz milk did not change (62.5%, 58.6%, 55.5%). The proportion of elementary students consuming >7oz milk declined spring to fall 2013 (55.5%, 41.1%, p<0.05), but recovered to 51.3% (spring 2014). While not significant, average milk shipment per student declined (1.0, 0.94, 0.88 units +SE 0.07). This is a concern as the school district offered more after school supper programs during this time. The water requirement at meals was implemented differently across schools. Water was available from fountains or pitchers in elementary and middle schools. Bottled water was free on the lunch line in the high school, where fewer students selected milk compared to younger students. Milk packaging changes did not impact milk consumption; work is needed to increase the percent of older students selecting milk. Funding: NE Dairy & Food Council