Dairy Industry Clarifies That California Milk Is More Nutritious Than Other State's Milk.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1998--Dairy industry leaders seek to clarify two incorrect statements made by Mad About Milk in its Sept. 30 release concerning the bi-monthly farm price adjustment for milk made by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Californians receive more nutrients in a glass of milk than those who drink milk produced to federal standards. California's milk contains as much as 33 percent more calcium and protein per serving and does so through fortification that costs less than a penny per eight ounce glass.

Reputable health organizations including Stanford Medical Center, Tufts University, Los Angeles WIC program among others, support California's nutritious milk standards.

Mad About Milk's claim that Californians get less nutrition from milk than consumers in neighboring states is unfounded and unsubstantiated. Residents in California get 380 milligrams of calcium and 11 grams of protein in an eight-ounce glass of one-percent milk. Milk produced under federal standards contains only 280 milligrams of calcium and 8 grams of protein.

These nutrients are important, particularly at a time when 75 percent of all Americans do not meet their daily requirements for calcium, which for most adults is 1000 milligrams per day.

Consumer's Union documentation reports that California milk consumption is 23.3 gallons while Arizona's is 22.9 according to 1996 USDA figures. Therefore MAM's claim that state regulations result in 30 percent less consumption by Californians is false.

For more information that responds to the claims made by the Mad About Milk organization, please contact dairy industry leaders: -0-

         Gary Conover
         Western United Dairymen
         209/527-6453
            or
         Jim Tillison
         Alliance of Western Milk Producers
         916/447-9941