Calcium-fortified soy milk is to be provided as an alternative to dairy milk for elementary-school students starting from the middle of next month at the earliest, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday, as part of its policy implemented this term to provide students with milk twice a week.
The ministry is implementing the policy in elementary schools and kindergartens, following in the footsteps of the US and Japan, which have long provided students with milk to supplement calcium intake and support growth.
Students can choose between ultra-pasteurized milk, which has a long shelf life, fresh milk and calcium-fortified soy milk for those who are lactose intolerant.
Photo: Taipei Times
Due to concerns about refrigeration, more than 70 percent of schools choose ultra-pasteurized milk and less than 30 percent choose fresh milk, while 2.2 percent of students are lactose intolerant, according to a survey by the Ministry of Education.
Most elementary-school students are already receiving domestically produced milk this term, but soy milk has been unavailable because a supplier was only confirmed on Sunday, the agriculture ministry said yesterday.
Students are entitled to two servings of milk per week, 44 per term, but this term’s soy milk quota would roll over into next term to ensure a balanced intake for students, agriculture the ministry said.
The agriculture ministry has worked with suppliers to guarantee that fresh milk is delivered in cool bags, which keep milk effectively refrigerated for up to 90 minutes.
However, teachers, concerned about fresh milk going sour, often require students to drink the milk as soon as it arrives.
The agriculture ministry is working with local governments to inform schools about the effectiveness of the cool bags.
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