World Milk Day acknowledges the qualities and importance of milk as global food and celebrates the passionate commitment of the dairy sector to feeding humanity
World Milk Day is celebrated on June 1 every year to raise awareness about the benefits of drinking milk. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations established this day in 2001. World Milk Day acknowledges the qualities and importance of milk as global food and celebrates the passionate commitment of the dairy sector to feeding humanity.
This is also a day to spread awareness about the challenges in the global production and distribution of milk.
World Milk Day Organisation hosts annual celebrations on June 1 to highlight the achievements and hard work of the dairy industry. This industry is responsible for keeping infants, children, and adults fed with nutritious milk. As Milk Day is about encouraging people to drink milk to stay healthy, it is equally about appreciating the dairy industry.
This day is observed by all United Nations member states, who organise various events to educate the public about the importance of milk.
World Milk Day Organisation annually announces a new theme for June 1. World Milk Day 2023 theme is “Enjoy Dairy”. The organisation encourages the participation of people in its annual social media campaigns. The hashtags for this year’s Milk Day campaign are #WorldMilkDay and #EnjoyDairy.
Last year, the theme of World Milk Day 2022 was “Dairy Net-Zero”. This theme showcased the work in progress to expedite climate action and minimise the environmental impact of the dairy industry.
Objectives
World Milk Day aims to globally promote the legacy of milk and allied products. It also focuses on highlighting the impact of the dairy industry on the environment. This day was established by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 2001.
- Milk is one dairy product that is required extensively throughout the world.
- Milk Day aims to highlight the importance of milk.
- This day also aims to bring the efforts of the dairy industry to the foreground.
Significance
The significance of Milk Day is acknowledged by all United Nations member states. Here are some reasons why this day is considered so important.
- Milk has been a global food consumed since time immemorial.
- It is a mixture of quintessential major and minor, constituting a healthy and balanced diet.
- According to Food and Agricultural Organisation, around six billion people consume milk in one or another way globally.
- World Milk Day aims to educate people about the high demand and sources of milk.
- This day also wants to highlight the fact that the dairy industry provides livelihood to one billion people.
- Milk is central to food security, nutrition, economic sustenance, and the development of every human.
History
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) founded World Milk Day in 2001 to emphasise the importance of milk as a worldwide food and to recognise the dairy sector. It aims to enhance milk awareness and draw attention to milk and the dairy industry.
Since several countries already had a Milk Day at or near this time, FAO proposed June 1 as the date.
Initially, they considered late May, but other countries, particularly China, observed that several red-letter days stuff the month.
While most countries commemorate World Milk Day on June 1, some prefer to celebrate a week before or after.
World Milk Day in India
India, being one of the member states of the United Nations, observed Milk Day every year. India is currently the top milk producer, with over 199 million tonnes produced in 2021 (USDA), making it a responsible global player in World Milk Day. Here are some of the ways this day is celebrated in India.
- India aces global milk production and is one of the biggest milk-producing countries in the world.
- The theme of World Milk Day 2023 resonates with India’s global commitment to curbing climate change.
- In 2021, India topped the list of countries with the most Milk Day social media activity.
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare ran social media campaigns on various social media profiles with hashtags #WorldMilkDay and #EnjoyDairy.
-To promote the health advantages of dairy products, the government launched a public awareness campaign, A Glass of Goodness.
- The National Dairy Development Board held a Milk & Me photo contest.
Nutritive facts of Milk
- Milk is considered as nature’s most unique food. The major and minor constituents/nutrients of milk include milk fat, protein (casein and whey proteins), carbohydrates (lactose, also known as milk sugar), minerals (calcium, phosphorous), vitamins (A, B, D), enzymes etc.
- The protein found in milk is considered a high-quality, complete protein as it contains all the essential amino acids necessary for muscle growth, repair, and maintenance. It can be particularly beneficial for athletes, individuals involved in physical activities, and those looking to build or maintain muscle mass.
- Some studies suggest that consuming milk and dairy products as part of a balanced diet may have a positive effect on heart health. Dairy products contain nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which are associated with maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
DID YOU KNOW
- The dairy sector supports more than one billion people’s livelihoods.
- More than six billion people globally consume dairy products, making it a $413.8 billion market.
- China is the fastest-growing dairy market. Europe, India, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina are the primary dairy-producing countries.
- Drinking milk in the US has been on the decline since about 2000. In the 1980s, more than 50% of the dairy products regulated by the USDA was beverage milk. By 2015, that had dropped to 33%. Prompting the downward trend, according to market watchers, is the annual decline in the market consumption of ready-to-eat cereals.
