Belfast, 19th October 2017: The crucial role that dairy can play in teenage diets will be a key debate at the forthcoming World Dairy Summit being held in Belfast later this month.
Around a fifth of teenage girls across the world are currently falling short on their recommended daily intake of calcium, iodine and riboflavin and dairy could help to fill the gap.
Whilst dairy consumption is generally on the rise, teenagers who turn away from dairy are not aware of the potential impact on long-term health.
Good nutrition is important for everyone but for teenagers is particularly important because the teen years are critical for the laying down of calcium in bone. Unfortunately, the diets of teenagers are not always good and this can have implications for the long term.
The topic of teenage nutrition and attitudes towards dairy consumption is something that will be discussed in greater detail at the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Summit 2017.
Internationally- renowned speakers will share their knowledge and experience in this area. Marianne Smith Edge, Dietitian and Founder AgriNutrition Edge (formerly The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, USA) will focus on understanding Gen Z attitudes and consumption patterns as a foundation for dairy consumption and innovation. Dr Moshe Mishali, Psychologist, University of Haifa, Israel will focus on behaviour change in families around diets and milk consumption.
Dr Judith Bryans, President of the IDF and Chief Executive of Dairy UK, added: “Rapid increases in height, weight, and bone development, along with a number of other physical changes during the teenage years can have a major influence on nutritional requirements, and demand for both nutrients and energy are high. The teenage diet is a challenge faced by our industry worldwide and I look forward to welcoming our renowned speakers to Belfast and learn from their expertise in this area.”
In addition to nutrition, other topics will also be discussed during the summit, including animal health and welfare, food safety, science and technology, sustainability and farm management in the dairy sector.
The summit will be hosted by the UK National Committee of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and will take place in Belfast from 30th October to 2nd November. More information on the summit can be found here: http://idfwds2017.com/
