What a difference Michigan milk can make
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EmailA large donation of Michigan milk was sent to those who needed it most, the residents of Flint.
In late January, a large donation of Michigan milk was sent to those who needed it most, the residents of Flint Michigan. The 12,000 gallon donation was on behalf of the Michigan Milk Producers Association’s nearly 2000 dairy farm families. You could say this was an example of farm families helping Flint families.
The calcium in milk and other dairy products can help protect children and families from the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Calcium circulating in the body can bind to cells before the lead does and as a result the lead is less likely to be absorbed.
Milk and other dairy products, contain many nutrients and provide a quick and easy way of supplying these nutrients to the body with relatively few calories. One glass of milk contains 30 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium, 25 percent of phosphorus, riboflavin and vitamin D, 20 percent of vitamin B-12 and 10 percent of potassium and vitamin A.
With these nutrients in mind it is easy to how including milk and other dairy products into your diet can help improve the body’s overall health. While the benefits of milk might not be a surprise, I am sure that most of us didn’t realize how milk and the calcium it contains can make such a difference to those who have ingested high levels of lead.
The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) worked with Kroger and Quickway Carriers to get the milk to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Kroger processed the milk and packaged it into gallon jugs. Then Quickway Carriers transported the milk to Flint where The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan distributed the milk to their partner food banks so that it reached Flint children and families. Dr. Jeff Dwyer, Interim Director of Michigan State University Extension, provided leadership in this farm to table process.
As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
