NONTHABURI, 1 June 2015 – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) encourages the Thai public to consume more milk on the occasion of the Wold Milk Day, as current data shows that Thai youths consume 4-7 times less milk than the global average.
MOPH Minister Rajata Rajatanavin has said on the occasion of the World Milk Day that the Ministry has been encouraging the Thai population, from young people to the seniors, to drink milk, particularly unsweetened whole milk to improve the strength of their bones and teeth.
The Ministry has also been promoting mothers to feed their babies only with their breast milk as an attempt to improve the intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional quotient (EQ) of the Thai children. Breast milk is crucial to the child’s development, from birth up to 6 months old.
1st June of every year is named the World Milk Day by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to let all countries to promote the benefits of milk. Milky contains quality protein, vitamin, and calcium, and contributes to the strength of bones and teeth.
The MOPH Minister has also revealed a 2013 survey result showing that Thai children on average consume only 14 litres of milk per person per year. This is lower than the average in the South East Asia region and the world by 4-7 times.
The average height of Thai persons aged 18 at 162.25, which is considered low, was due to low milk consumption. The MOPH is aiming to raise the average height of Thais to 171 centimetres, additionally with fit body shapes by 2025 through the increase of milk consumption, proper nutrition, and exercises that involves stretching such as swimming, basketball, pull up, and volleyball.
