Milk is one of the best value-for-money nutritional foods, according to extensive new research.
Scientists tried to discover the most affordable and nutritious foods by comparing nutrient content to cost.
Milk was one of the highest scoring foods and was shown to be one of the lowest-cost sources of protein, calcium and several vitamins. Other foods providing nutritional value for money included juices, cereals, beans and eggs.
Dr Judith Bryans Director of the Dairy Council said: “One of the major influences on food selection is cost which plays a big role in the decisions we make at the supermarket. Milk is known to be an inexpensive product, it is readily available, it has many nutritional benefits and it is easy and adaptable to make into many nutritious meals.
“The study could lead to consumers making smarter choices in the supermarket by having a better understanding of nutrient rich products which are affordable.”
The study was carried out in the United States. Nine major food groups, as defined by the US Department of Agriculture, were analysed using the Nutrient Rich Foods index (NRF), a formal scoring system that ranks foods on the basis of their nutrient content with a food prices database.
The groups were: milk and milk products/meat, poultry and fish/eggs/dry beans, nuts and seeds/grain products/fruit/vegetables/fats and oils/sugars, sweets and beverages.
The study has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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