SAN CLEMENTE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/09/08 -- Later this year, supermarkets across thecountry are expected to post signs on aisle shelves ranking each food,drink or product by a number. The new system called the OverallNutritional Quality Index (ONQI) was developed by an international team oftop nutrition experts, led by Dr. David Katz at Yale University's GriffinHospital Prevention Research Center. The system uses a number score fromone to 100 (with 100 being the best score) to indicate the nutritionalquality of a specific food: Skim milk joins spinach, strawberries andbroccoli as one of the top ranked foods according to the ONQI. Skim milkscores a 91, which puts it right at the very top of ranked beverages."This is great news," says Steve James, Executive Director of theCalifornia Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creators of GOT MILK? "Thisnew system reaffirms what we've been educating the public about for years.Milk strengthens bones, muscles, teeth and even hair. It really is one ofthe best foods out there."
According to the researchers, skim milk is one of the most nutritiousbeverages available at the supermarket with a 91. One percent milkreceives 81, orange juice ranks 39, diet soft drink gets a 15 and regularsoda receives a one rating. Scientists say the new system does notcharacterize any one food or drink as bad. What they hope to achieve withthe ONQI is to increase public awareness about the need to make wiser foodand drink choices. The ONQI hopes to make it easier for consumers to readand understand the nutritional value of products they'd hope to purchase atthe supermarket.
"The ONQI does not tell anybody what food to choose or to avoid," says Dr.Katz. "But it makes choosing on the basis of nutritional quality easy, ata glance. The high scores for milk, particularly skim milk, shouldencourage that choice for health-conscious consumers."
The development of the ONQI dates back to 2003. Its goal is to improve thedietary intake of Americans and to curtail the spread of obesity in theUnited States. While Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healthreports that 66 percent of adults were overweight or obese in 2003-2004,such problems no longer pertain to just grown-ups. A Mayo Clinic articlepublished in 2006 reports that one-third of children in this country areoverweight or at-risk of becoming overweight, totaling to about 25 millionkids. That number has doubled for children between the ages of 6 to 11 andhas tripled for teenagers over the last two decades. In the Hispaniccommunity, a 2006 National Council of La Raza Fact Sheet reports that 39.3percent of Mexican-American children (the largest Hispanic group in the US)ages 6 to 11 are overweight and 23.7 percent are obese -- outnumberingAfrican-Americans and Whites.
"The epidemic of obesity, and related conditions such as diabetes, isalready dire and will only get worse if people do not improve their foodchoices," says Dr. Katz. "The good news is that diet and health can beimproved -- one well informed food choice at a time."
Though the ONQI does not offer guidance as far as portion size isconcerned, the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services recommend that kids and adultsalike drink at least three to four glasses of non-fat or low fat milkdaily.
About the CMPB
The California Milk Processor Board was established in 1993 to make milkmore competitive and increase milk consumption in California. GOT MILK? isa federally registered trademark that has been licensed by the nationaldairy boards since 1995. GOT MILK? gifts and recipes can be viewed athttp://www.gotmilk.com. The CMPB is funded by all California milkprocessors and administered by the California Department of Food andAgriculture.
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