Carbonated Milk...

[Mystican]

http://www.booksense.com/readup/news/index.jsp;jsessionid=886B96BBBF4B724D1EFF7E5EF529C CAE.hub

The link above is to a news item at BookSense.com about a husband-and-wife team that invented a "carbonated milk" drink that they hope will be just as (or more) appealing to children than sodas.

While I suppose it might be healthier than drinking sodas, it still sure isn't the healthiest thing to put in your body, and from an ethical standpoint, it's no better. (Of course, that obviously wasn't their point in creating the product.)

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know about it. Not sure if it has much relevance here at VegFamily. (I know most of us wouldn't drink it even if it weren't carbonated. :D )

Also, just as an aside, BookSense.com seems to be (despite that favorable news coverage of the "carbonated milk") a good site for those who prefer to buy their books from independent bookstores. The page at http://www.booksense.com/about/booksense.jsp has more information about the site and the associated "national marketing campaign on behalf of the independent bookstores of America...[that] is both a local and national effort to shine a light on the knowledge and diversity of independent bookstores."

-Erik

[alexis]

I have only one word for it....YUCK....

[frenchie]

That is FOUL!!

[Jenica]

Actually, they did not invent the idea of that drink. That particular version of it, perhaps. There is a carbonated drink with milk as a main ingredient called Calpico that has been popular in Japan for at least the last ten years. Truthfully, as yucky as it sounds now to me as a vegan, it was very tasty back when I consumed dairy. I far preferred it to soda. However, as far as the health issue is concerned, I do think it's pretty twisted that they found yet another way to market milk to children.

[xmysticprincessx]

I got this email from Peta last week on the carbonated milk issue. I think how it's interesting that this carbonated milk is being promoted to be healthier than soda/pop, but that it has more sugar, fat, calories, and other bad stuff in it than soda/pop.

Calling for legal restrictions to be imposed on the sale of flavored milk in public school vending machines, PETA filed a formal complaint today with the New York Education Department. Schools throughout the state have been replacing soda vending machines with new ones containing flavored milk, which is being pushed as a “healthful” alternative to sweetened soft drinks. Yet the flavored milk products sold in the machines contain more sugar, fat, cholesterol, and calories than the soft drinks that they replace. And while sales of sweetened soda and candy in public schools are heavily restricted under New York law, the sugar- and fat-laden milk products are not being restricted in any way. In its complaint, PETA argues that there is no rational way to restrict the sale of soda because of its high sugar content, while permitting unlimited student access to flavored milk products with even higher sugar contents.

Despite the dairy ads and other dairy hype, dairy products are linked to obesity, allergies, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. And in addition to producing an unhealthful product, the dairy industry is so hard on its repeatedly impregnated and overmilked cows that they are typically worn out and slaughtered at only a fraction of their natural lifespan. It also sends male calves into crate confinement for the benefit of the nation’s cruel veal industry. The dairy industry is harmful both to kids and to cows.

“At a time when New York law requires that students learn about good health and character, they are being served unhealthful products and asked to support animal suffering,” says PETA attorney, Matthew Penzer. “Such ‘lessons’ do not serve the best interests of the students, of the public, or of the cows and calves who are abused and slaughtered at the hands of the dairy industry.”

**What You Can Do**
Write to the commissioner of the New York State Education Department, urging him to grant the complaint and issue appropriate legal regulations restricting the sale of flavored milk in school vending machines:

Richard P. Mills, Commissioner
State Education Department
89 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12234

[Dancer]

Bravo! I have also been posting the same with regard to the prolific dangers surrounding the dairy industry. A healthful alternative would be natural juice boxes or enriched rice/soy -milk boxes. Imagine a world where the kids had only healthy choices? Don't even get me started on the cruelty aspect---

Btw, cows are VERY aware during the walk within the slaughter house to their final destination. Their anxiety level has actually been studied and measured; while they may not have specifric congizance of the next step, they smell the other animals' fear and know that what is happening is not usual.

Only calves need cow's milk!

Dancer

[annie7]

You are NOT gonna believe THIS!... The school where I work has just today taken out the JUICE machine that was next to (of all things) a coca cola machine and put in it's place.... a flavored sugared up MILK machine with 6 or 8 different flavors. UUGGGHHH!!! OH! I just can NOT even vocalize my frustration. A week ago when the suggestion was made to do this, I stated facts about milk consumption and my opinion that the juice machine would be better for the kids. I gave them copies of health reports concerning osteo problems. I gave them reported linking information to asthma and allergies. I gave them the NOTMILKMAN web site. I....I....I.... UUUGGGHHH!!!! (picture me throwing my hands up and storming away!)

[Mystican]

Yikes! And this is a school? (Do they teach any kind of nutrition or health at all in any of the classes, by the way?) Oy... I can very well imagine your frustration.

I mean, okay, let's say they didn't quite believe you about the health problems associated with milk consumption ... and let's say it doesn't occur to them that there's an ethical aspect to this as well... and they really want to have a milk machine on campus... you would still think that they would replace the *COCA COLA MACHINE* and keep the juice machine, not the other way around. It boggles the mind, and the more I think about it, the more I share your frustration. (I mean, do they actually think, "Coca Cola or Juice, which is healthier to keep as a choice for the kids? Coca Cola? Sure, why not?" !?!)

Oy, I say again.

(Are they by any chance getting paid by the Coca Cola company to have that machine there? I wouldn't put it past some companies to do that just for the sake of "on-campus advertising"...)

Erik

[Erin Pavlina]

Yes, schools get paid by those companies to carry their products on campus. It's so appalling! But the schools need the money so they do it. It's really a shame it's come to this. We can spend billions of dollars on defense, but next to nothing on our schools. :(

If only there was some way to make them a higher profit on healthier items...

[Doug]

How about promoting carbonated water aka 'seltzer', it's basically water and it has bubbles for fun. Certainly a lot better than soda or milk. Right?

[annie7]

Here's the way I understand it works at my school... The company does not pay the school to have the machines there, HOWEVER, They are under a 2 year contract with Coca Cola to keep those machines and NOT add a competitor (a.k.a. Pepsi) to the campus. This includes all sporting events and fund raising concession stands. In return for the contract, the school recieves sporting equipment and team apparel (that just happen to have the coke logo) and the almighty giant electric scoreboard (also with emblazoned logo). Probably some other perks I'm not aware of, too. ~Annie

[k0s]

How could CARBONATED milk be good? Ick. Maybe with tons of sugar? :rolleyes:

[frenchie]

The schools also profit from the sales of the soda in the machines. I knwo this sounds terrible, but I'm irritated that some schools are being forced to give up the soda machines, and NO ALTERNATIVE is being given to them!! The schools NEED the money. The kids will drink soda somehow. Taking the machines out of the schools isn't going to stop obesity or consumption. What it will do is take money away from the sport programs that the schools offer. Sports=excercise.......those soda machines are a neccessary evil. I went to a school that actually had a coffee/soup machine, several snack machines with good and bad food, and of course the soda machines. Some soda machines offer juice and water as well. I think the key is variety, but the schools *need* those machines.

[alexis]

Boy, the whole situation with schools sound really bad...it's kinda hard to believe, but then again...wht's not hard to believe? I'm just glad that the Singapore government places alot of emphasis on schools and good health...i think it's against the law or some regulation for any company to do this with schools here...so we don't really have that problem...the problem we DO have here is that students are actively given soda, sugared packet drinks and sugared 'fruit juice' drinks in the not so well off neighbourhood schools...and if there's fruit juice, soda would definitely be cheaper than juice....grrrr....:rolleyes:

[annie7]

That "milk machine" at school is from "swerve drinks". A product of...you guessed it... The coca cola company! No WONDER the juice went and the coke machine stayed! I found that out here (www.swervedrinks.com) . Skim milk and sugar, plus tons of other junk. (P.S. You have to look very closely at the bottom left corner of the screen. Put your glasses on 'cause you just might miss it!!)