Assembly Members were presented with Welsh milk provided by a local farmer as part of this year’s World School Milk Day.
The annual event, which took place yesterday, Wednesday, September 26, saw Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary, Llyr Gruffydd, present his AM colleagues with a pint of Welsh milk, provided by NFU Cymru member, Rhys Lougher of Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, Pyle.
NFU Cymru Milk Board chairman, Gareth Richards, was also in attendance.
‘Critical’
Commenting, Richards said: “World School Milk Day is the perfect opportunity to highlight just how important it is for everyone, especially school-age children, to drink milk.
“School milk has a vital role to play in helping children maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Drinking milk in school is critical to tackling rising obesity levels, dehydration and young people’s deficiencies in important nutrients like iodine and calcium.
Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru shadow education secretary, said: “World School Milk Day is an international campaign to emphasise the importance of milk for growing youngsters.
“Children require lots of nutrients and energy from foods to ensure adequate growth and development.
42% of RDI
“A carton of semi-skimmed milk can provide 42% of seven to 10-year-olds’ recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium and 24% of their recommended protein intake.
It is also important for the dairy industry in Wales that we promote Welsh produce in our schools and strengthen that connection between farmers and the consumers of the future.
“I delivered the milk, which was kindly provided by NFU Cymru member Rhys, to every AM in the building today to remind all our politicians of the importance of good nutrition for our children, and also the Welsh dairy industry,” the shadow education secretary added.
