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Friday, March 13, 2009
No end in sight to milk corruption
No more zoning regulations for the school milk programme. More UHT milk with a longer lifespan for the kids, instead of pasteurised milk which spoils easily.
If we believe these new rules will solve the problem of corruption in the school milk programme while absorbing raw fresh milk from the local dairy industry, then we will soon be in for a big disappointment.
According to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, he would revoke the zoning regulations designed by the Thaksin administration to let the free market take over.
Under this new scenario, he would also increase free milk days for school children while expandng the programme to cover up until Prathom 6 level.
The change will involve an additional budget injection of 2,000 million baht, said Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu.
Some 1,300 million baht will go to buy milk for Prathom 5 and 6 pupils. The rest will go to the change from pasteurised to UHT packaging.
Meanwhile, the government will still let the Tambon Administration Office under the Department of Local Administration of the Interior Ministry, decide who will get the milk supply contracts.
Whether it be Thaksin's or Abhisit's administration, the officials are still holding fast to the daddy-knows-best policy, which believes that uniform rules can meet different needs in different locales.
But they cannot.
This new scheme will not solve school milk corruption either, since the corruption-ridden local administration bodies are still the main decision-maker, without participation from schools and parents groups.
There are many questions the government has to answer.
Let's start with a simple one: How can we be certain that the milk in the UHT package is really made from fresh milk?
We are only kidding ourselves if we believe that the label "Made From Fresh Cow's Milk" on the package is always true.
When milk powder is still much cheaper, how can we guarantee that UHT milk will not be made from powdered milk?
The difference in real cost will make a lot of people richer, but it does not necessarily guarantee better quality milk nor does it promise the end of raw milk oversupply in the local dairy industry.
Another question: What if a particular community does not want their children to drink cow's milk?
This is not a hypothetical question. Dr Waemahadi Waedao, Narithiwat MP of Puea Paendin party, has already pointed out that goat's milk is more suitable for the southern Muslim children.
Not only because goat's milk is healthy, but also because there is abundant goat's milk to be had there.
Using goat's milk in the deep South would, therefore, be good for the local dairy industry, convenient for transportation and in line with local traditional diet.
Similarly, what if some communities want their children to drink soymilk instead of cow's milk to avoid allergy problems?
What if they want to take turns serving their children dairy and soymilk so the kids are not bored with drinking the same thing every day?
It boils down to this question: Why cannot the communities work with schools to decide for themselves what they want for their children?
Why do they have to follow the top-down rules designed by those who do not understand local differences and preferences?
Why do they have to let the corruption-ridden local administration bodies control what affects their children's health?
When the communities take charge, the bidding and monitoring processes will be more open and transparent, thus eliminating the chance for corruption.
Call it anything you like, but the villagers call it grassroots democracy.
Rules from the top without local consultation cannot solve the problem of sub-standard milk. Nor can they stop corruption.
Is it a wonder, then, that despite the huge amount of money spent on the school milk programme, the rate of malnutrition has not improved at all in the past decade?
For our children's good health in a corruption-free system, it takes transparency and participation from the local people. It takes decentralised policy decision-making.
The answer, for the health of our kids and our system, is democracy.
Read comment
date : 17/03/2009 time : 02:13I drink milk because I like it. I like it in my cup of tea, on my Weetabix and other cereals. Do I need it? No! I drink it because I like it, full stop.
As for asking Google, surely you realise that Google will only direct you to various website, and these may give conflisting ideas.
As for companies spending millions (really? millions?) on advertising, surely that is so that you buy from them instead of competitors.
date : 17/03/2009 time : 05:34But Soymilk is not healthy ! Maybe in Thailand where the PR is so powerfull, but in European countries do the health experts warn of soi milk as it is not needed for children, cow or goat milk is absolutely the best !
date : 17/03/2009 time : 05:55
date : 17/03/2009 time : 22:48
date : 18/03/2009 time : 01:12Some here argues that milk is not necessary for people base on other mammals. I would point you to the fact that we as human are not like other mammals, and evolved quite differently. No other animals requires supplement food in order to avoid various chronic conditions in humans.
"But Soymilk is not healthy ! Maybe in Thailand where the PR is so powerfull, but in European countries do the health experts warn of soi milk as it is not needed for children, cow or goat milk is absolutely the best !"
1) It's hard to take you very seriously when you can't spell soy milk correctly.
2) Europeans are much more lactose tolerant than Asian because their diet includes more dairy ever since they are young. And over here in Asia, there are also a lot of studies that points in the opposite direction. You should never take 1 study as a solid fact.
3) Notice how average Thais now are about a foot taller than their parents? Yes, that's what milk does to you. And it's a preferable trait, since bigger frame often constitute to better health (and being more sexually attractive).
----------------
As far as Thailand goes, it all comes down to finding a way to distribute milk (an important source of calcium) with as little corruption as possible. It's a difficult feat, but I believe that it can be done provided we don't back out of the fight.
date : 18/03/2009 time : 14:39Beer is the only, totally nutrient based product, safe for everyone. I say give them the malt, barley and hops their young bodies deserve ! Not with corn flakes though !
date : 20/03/2009 time : 04:23I don't know where you get the information from that milk does not have any positive effect on the body -there a lots of well done studies on the effect of milk (not all of them have been financed by the dairy industry):
Especially during the growth phase of children they require a steady supply of calcium among other nutrients to ensure that their bones develop properly. Milk is an excellent source for this which si why all over the world governments take care that children get enough milk.
If there is not enough calcium supply the risk of developing acute calcium deficiency and later osteoporosis. You can see this easily with older women in Europe who were born in war times when milk was not available: Their risk to develop osteoporosis is far higher.
Also during pregnancy milk can provide the additional calcium that the body of the women require.
You are right in one regard: With increasing age the ability to absorb calcium continuously decreases - which is why some agencies recommend to increase the daily input rat. But since the bones don't grow anymore after a certain age I personally think that this is less important.
Important is to provide children with all the nutrients that they need to develop properly and have a healthy life.
Last: check information from google carefully - in google you can also find lots of studies about alien civilizations on Mars....
date : 20/03/2009 time : 14:49
date : 21/03/2009 time : 01:17The process of pasteurising, homogenising and turning milk into a long shelf-life product (UHT)ensures that any nutritional value is thoroughly destroyed, to the point of turning the milk into a toxic product.
Read up on the internet about the 'XO factor'. It refers to the fact that the homogenisation process renders the milk fat into such small globules that they pass through the intestinal walls into the blood stream, where they cause lesions to the walls of blood vessels. Such damage has been found in 7% of American children.
Maybe the government should investigate the possibility of giving children the milk from green cococnuts, which is very healthy and nutritious; it would also benefit coconut farmers.
date : 21/03/2009 time : 14:34We're facing a fat epedemic and almost
all of caused by misinformation and a little added sugar, salt or fat to get us that way. I've read many studies that claim cows milk has so much butter fat that it morer than cancells the benefits of the milk. Broccoli, Califlower and spinach will give you all of the Calcium you need.
I'm living proof. I haven't had any dairy products or meat, in other words I've been a Vegan, that is one step beyond a Vegeterian.50 years ago I became deathly sick. I read everything I could get my hands on, it all pointed
to nutrition, or lack of it.
I then became what I am. I am going to be 86 in June, I ride the BTS everyday, go to fitness everyday Most days I leave my home at about 10:15 A.M. and get home about 6:00 P.M
My calcium is fine, bone density is good.
I have been eating to live for 50 years
Not living to eat.
Pop randy
date : 23/03/2009 time : 12:36EAT TO LIVE!
DON:T live to eat????????????????????????
date : 23/03/2009 time : 12:42
date : 09/04/2009 time : 12:42number of fat people. Think about all of the products made from dairy.
Butter, Cheese that also has much salt.
cottage cheese,loaded with salt.
ice cream made from cream loaded with butter fat and sugar. Many more things made from
dairy.Most of these things are also loaded with sugar, salt, and added fat.
I'm not quoting facts, but if you would
do some research you'll see that I'm pretty close.
I've managed to stay alive a lot longer than I should have, I've had Emphasema for 50 years, Parkinsons disease for about 9 years, Arial Fibbrillation and probably a few things not worth mentioning. I'm 86 in June,very active! You figure it out.
Pop Randy
Remember! Eat to live! Not, live to eat.
date : 29/08/2009 time : 12:39I drink milk because I like it. I thinking about milk is "Purn Anna". I am very happy when drinking milk
date : 04/05/2010 time : 13:24
date : 04/05/2010 time : 13:33
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If you did your homework you would find out that once a animal or human being has begin eating regular food, the don't need mothers milk. That is what your drinking is mothers milk formulated for baby calf's.
You show me one animal that drinks mother's milk once on solid food.
The story that everybody needs milk was created by big business to sell milk to every man woman and child.
If you don't believe me, ask Google, they know about everything. Ask them if milk is good for you after your taken off of the mothers breast????????
Grow up and quit believing every ad you hear or see.
You think these Companies spend millions on advertise to tell whats wrong with their products???????
I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!
Do some home work and check for yourself.