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Nutrition & Product Information
Flavored Milk in Perspective
Introduction
Many varieties of flavored milks, including chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, banana, black raspberry, blueberry, root beer, cappuccino, and coffee, are available (1,2). Chocolate milk, however, has long been the most popular flavored milk consumed (2). Flavored milks are available in whole to nonfat varieties, but growth in flavored milk sales during the past decade has been predominantly in reduced, low, and nonfat varieties (3).
In general, flavored milks are milks to which a sweetened flavors such as cocoa or cocoa powder, strawberry or vanilla extract has been added, along with a sweetener such as sucrose or high fructose corn syrup (4). Federal standards for pasteurization, vitamin addition, milk solids, and milk fat levels are the same for flavored and unflavored milks (4).
Flavored milks, particularly chocolate, are well liked, especially among children and adolescents (2,5). According to a recent survey of 12,000 individuals regarding their usage of flavored milks, children under the age of 12 and adolescents were the most frequent users of flavored milk (2). About one-third of children aged 9 to 11 agreed that they would drink more milk if it were chocolate (2). This finding is similar to that of an earlier national survey in which 39% of children 8 to 13 years agreed that they would drink more milk if it were chocolate (5). Children are more likely to drink flavored milk on a regular basis at school than at home (2,5).
Despite the wide variety of flavored milks in the marketplace and the popularity of these beverages, especially among children, some parents, teachers, school food service directors, and school principals express concern about the nutritional and health benefits of flavored milks for school-aged children. Some are of the opinion that flavored milks are not as nutritious as unflavored white milk and that certain components in flavored milks such as added sugars may be detrimental to children's health and behavior. This report examines the latest scientific research related to the nutritional and health benefits of flavored milk, particularly chocolate milk, and helps to put myths regarding flavored milks into perspective.
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