About 1.2m children in two- thirds of English state nurseries and primary schools take advantage of the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme. But a report produced by London Economics on behalf of the Government last week claimed that up to 1.5m could be saved if the current UK 'top-up' subsidy was withdrawn.
The report acknowledges the importance of providing milk to children in nursery education as the effects of consuming insufficient calcium could be 'more severe for younger than older children'. It also suggests that teenagers and children in low-income areas should continue to be targeted.
But dairy campaigners are concerned about the effect that such a move would have on primary school children aged five and over, the target group that would be directly affected by the withdrawal of the top-up money.
Dairy UK, the cross-industry organisation representing the dairy industry, is urging the Government to continue to support the provision of milk in schools.
Jim Begg, the director general, said, 'At a time when there are genuine concerns over the nutritional well-being of children, we should not be looking at ways of dismantling a tried and tested way of encouraging children to drink milk.'
Steve Shaffelburg, policy manager at the British Heart Foundation, said, 'The milk subsidy should only end if the Government has clear evidence that the subsidy does not contribute to children's health, particularly children from deprived areas. This should be a health decision, not a financial one.'
A spokesperson for the Dairy Council said that children who avoid or consume only small amounts of milk are much more likely to fall short of the recommended daily intakes for calcium, riboflavin and iodine.
The Government is currently considering the recommendations and will respond in the summer. For more information visit www.defra.org.uk.
* The Department of Health's School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and Healthy Start, which is soon to replace the Welfare Food scheme, are both separate initiatives that will not be affected by the outcome of this report.