Milk-and-Dairy-Products-in-Human-Nutrition-FAO

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Milk and dairy products in human nutrition
• Who is consuming more dairy products Do they include vulnerable groups
such as low-income families, children and pregnant or lactating women Are
there differences in consumption between rural and urban populations
• How frequently do they consume dairy products and in what quantities
Is consumption in line with national dietary guidelines Are dairy products
consumed in sufficient quantities to effect nutritional change
• Through what route did increased consumption arise: more consumption of
home produce; more income spent on dairy products; a fall in the price or
increase in availability of dairy products; dairy products provided to specific
households or individuals What influenced the decision to consume more
• If the programme has increased family livelihoods, is there any evidence
that this has contributed to dietary diversification in general and increased
consumption of dairy products in particular
• Is there any evidence that consuming additional dairy products or better dietary
diversity resulting from higher incomes from dairy as a result of the programme
has improved the growth and development or mental ability of children
• Is there evidence that the programme has resulted in consumption of dairy
products above recommended national dietary guidelines
To answer these questions it may be necessary to measure changes in three things:
• consumption (quantities, frequencies and types) of dairy products
• dietary diversity
• improved or reduced nutritional status resulting from consumption of
dairy products.
Measurement of nutritional status (though metrics such as body mass index, child
growth and biochemical tests to measure micronutrient status, as described by FAO
[2005]) is the hardest, takes longest and requires skills that may not be available
among the agriculture specialists who run dairy projects. These skills can only be
acquired through specialized training, and it is more effective for dairy programmes
to link with nutrition and human-health programmes that are already measuring
the variables of interest. In practice it is rare that randomized controlled trials,
considered the gold standard for evaluation, are supported by funding agencies
or can be afforded by implementing organisations (Girard et al., 2012). However,
it may not be necessary for every dairy programme to measure health impacts. A
few additional credible studies linking dairy consumption with dietary intakes and
nutritional outcomes would provide a sufficient base on which to draw conclusions
from data about consumption.
Measurement of dietary diversity is simpler, but still requires detailed surveys at
household or village level. Consumption of dairy products is the easiest factor to
measure, provided that the programme can define the target population that it might
reasonably be expected to affect. It is easy to locate the farmers who produce and
consume milk and those who work for them, but harder to assess who in an urban
population might have benefitted from having more milk produced. It is also important
to design rigorous evaluations that take account of factors other than the dairy
programme that may affect consumption; these might include a general increase
in incomes or the opening up of additional livelihoods opportunities. Investment