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People’s health relies on a balanced, nutritious diet
Australian Dairy Sector Sustainability Framework: Providing nutritious food for a healthier world
Alignment with SDGs
AUTHOR
Helen Dornom Dairy Australia • Australia
Abstract
Dairy foods provide a unique package of more than ten essential nutrients important for healthy bones, nervous and immune systems, eyesight, muscle function, healthy skin, energy levels and growth and repair in all parts of the body.
Scientists and nutritionists are increasingly recognising the value of the dairy matrix, as the effects of dairy foods go beyond the benefits of the individual nutrients they contain.
Despite this, there is increasing pressure on the role of animal-based proteins, including dairy, in a sustainable diet. The demand for plant-based food and beverages, such as soy and almond, is increasing.
Milk, cheese and yoghurt continue to be recognised in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Dietary Guidelines as part of a healthy diet. The guidelines are set to undergo a major review, commencing in 2021. The NHMRC has outlined the first step of the review: a scan of the latest nutrition science research and evidence from Australia and overseas.
The Australian dairy industry is working to ensure dairy is recognised as having a key role as part of a healthy sustainable diet.
A place in diets that are good for people, planet
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) published research in the European Journal of Nutrition, 2021 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32277271/) that shows a healthy balanced diet should include dairy foods such as milk and yoghurt; and this has lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to other less healthy options.
Researchers examined a subset of 1,732 Australian adult diets that had higher diet quality scores and lower GHG emissions. These diets are of interest because they show habits that could realistically be adopted by more Australians. The research found that 90% of these healthier and lower GHG emission diets included dairy foods, particularly milk, then cheese and yoghurt. What set these diets apart was much less discretionary foods, including sweets, fast foods and soft drinks.
The Australian dairy industry is working to ensure dairy is seen as part of the solution – as unhealthy diets are not sustainable.
The dairy matrix
Scientists and nutritionists are recognising that the effects of dairy foods go beyond the benefits of the individual nutrients they contain. The whole dairy food is greater than the sum of its parts and the unique ‘dairy matrix’ is responsible for its many health benefits. In 2020, Dairy Australia launched a communications program on the dairy matrix aimed at health professionals to reinforce dairy’s unique health benefits. This contributed to 88% of general practitioners feeling confident to recommend dairy as part of a balanced diet, as indicated by Dairy Australia research. (see The Dairy Matrix – Dairy Australia)
The dairy matrix
Scientists and nutritionists are recognising that the effects of dairy foods go beyond the benefits of the individual nutrients they contain. The whole dairy food is greater than the sum of its parts and the unique ‘dairy matrix’ is responsible for its many health benefits. In 2020, Dairy Australia launched a communications program on the dairy matrix aimed at health professionals to reinforce dairy’s unique health benefits. This contributed to 88% of general practitioners feeling confident to recommend dairy as part of a balanced diet, as indicated by Dairy Australia research. (see The Dairy Matrix – Dairy Australia)
Nutrient-dense foods such as milk and dairy foods provide high-quality nutrition at all life stages and are part of healthy diets. They are a good source of under-consumed nutrients, particularly for children and older adults.
Dairy Matters
‘What matters to you, matters to us too’ is the catchline for consumer communications which showcase the industry’s commitments around sustainability. The dairy industry launched the ‘Dairy Matters’ campaign to help consumers learn more about the Australian dairy industry.
This included sharing our four sustainability commitments.
The ‘You Ask, We Answer’ component allows consumers to ask questions online and get answers from experts. The 2020 Dairy Australia Trust Tracker survey revealed that over 80% of socially conscious consumers, which is a key target audience, trust dairy as a healthy and wholesome food.(see The Dairy Matrix – Dairy Australia)
Health resources hub
A wide selection of health fact sheets and healthy recipes featuring dairy has been collected on the Dairy Product Health Resources website, to make it easy for consumers and health professionals to find the information they need.
Topics covered include dietary guidelines and nutrients, health benefits (including bone and cardiovascular health), and intolerances and allergies. Information is also provided for different life stages and levels of activity. (See https://www.dairy.com.au/health)
References
To see more on the information provided by Dairy Australia to support the role of dairy in a healthy sustainable diet, please see: https://www.dairy.com.au/sustainability/healthy-sustainable-diets
Also see https://www.dairy.com.au/30ways – 30 ways the Australian dairy industry is reducing its GHG emissions
