Young girl with school lunch and milk

Super Milk for Super Schools!

From September 2009 fortified low fat milk will be available to all schools, giving children all the benefits of added calcium, folic acid and vitamin D.

Avonmore Low Fat Super Milk is low in fat and enriched with extra Calcium, Folic Acid plus 4 key Vitamins A, B, D and E. Milk is probably the most complete natural ready-made food there is. Avonmore Super Milk is a source of:

  • Protein, essential for a body’s healthy growth and repair
    • Food Pyramid
  • Calcium, necessary for strong bones and teeth
  • Vitamin D, which helps absorb and utilise calcium in the body
  • Vitamin A, necessary for normal vision and healthy skin
  • Vitamin B2, helps to release energy from food
  • Vitamin B12, contributes to healthy blood & maintains a healthy nervous system
  • Vitamin E, an excellent anti-oxidant
  • Folic Acid, necessary for the development of a healthy nervous system
  • Contains just 1.5% fat

Avonmore Low Fat Super Milk is low in fat - 1 in 5 Irish children aged 5-12 are overweight or obese.

Why are these vitamins and minerals in Super Milk important for school children?

The Department of Health and Children (DOHC) recommend children have 3 servings of dairy foods daily. On average, Irish children consume only 1.9 servings of dairy daily.

The graph below shows the percentage of Irish boys and girls (aged 5-12 years) that have inadequate intakes of Calcium, Folic Acid, Vitamin A and B, as identified in the IUNA, National Children’s Food Survey, 2005. All of these Vitamins/Minerals are present in Avonmore Super Milk.

The percentage of Irish boys and girls (aged 5-12 years) that have inadequate intakes of Calcium, Folic Acid, Vitamin A and B

In addition to the inadequate intakes outlined in the graph above, children aged 5-12 years have also been shown to have low Vitamin D intake. 88% of primary schoolchildren don’t meet recommended Vitamin D intake, which experts believe will have health consequences in years to come(¹). This is largely due to the fact that we don’t get enough sun in Ireland, which means we don’t get enough Vitamin D.

Vitamin D, also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ is a vital nutrient that is critical to our health. It is predominantly produced through the action of sunshine on our skin and is essential for the absorption of calcium. In fact, in the absence of Vitamin D, we can absorb no more than 15% of the calcium we consume.(²)

Adequate Vitamin D and calcium intake during childhood is crucial as this is when the foundations of skeletal health are laid down.

School Milk Scheme:

Children can receive a 250ml carton of Avonmore Low Fat Super Milk each day at a subsidised price, making this scheme extremely good value for money. The cost is subsidised by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the EU. If you want to ensure your pupils receive one of their 3 servings of dairy a day whilst in school, you can ask in school for more information or email schoolmilk@glanbia.ie

Enjoy Avonmore Super Milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet and active lifestyle

(1) Kiely et al. Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance. (2005). National Children’s Food Survey
(2) Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med (2007) 357 (3): 266-281