Opportunities for the Dairy Industry in Nutritional Research

Abstract

I t is a privilege to consider with you the importance of the National Dairy Council program of support of research and the opportunities for the dairy industry in nutrition research. I am sometimes asked why it is necessary continuously to pursue nutritional research? Or why do we not merely apply all the knowledge we now have? The implication of such questions is that we might call a moratorium on further research and address our efforts to application. Such questions stem from a lack of understanding of the dimensions of nutrition and nutritional science in the 1970's. Changes and developments constantly occur through application of science and technology and must be considered on every hand yes, even in relation to the unique food, mill~. Milk is, indeed, a unique food in that it is the one food produced by the mammalian organism specifically to nourish its young in the early days of life. It is a historical fact that it is a suitable food for such purposes during the early months. And, of course, we use and modify it in many ways so that it is subject to changes similar to those that affect various other important biological foodstuffs. Furthermore, as medical science has advanced we recognize a need even to modify conventional foods in certain rare cases of metabolic disorders that require individualized management. Within the past two decades there has been identified a very wide variety of these relatively rare conditions, so-called metabolic or genetic disorders or inborn errors of metabolism . . . . . Further understanding through research will enable us to utilize more fully nutritionally, designed products to protect the health of these members of our society.