WASHINGTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Dairy Foods Association issued the following statement by Connie Tipton, president and CEO, regarding today's Report to the President by the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity:

"On behalf of our member companies, I want to applaud First Lady Michelle Obama and the Obama Administration for its integrated approach to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. The dairy industry is committed to playing a vital role in the health and well-being of our nation's children and families.

"We are pleased to see the Report acknowledge the tremendous nutrient richness of dairy products and reaffirm the important role that low-fat and fat-free milk and dairy products play in providing the nine essential nutrients kids need.

"Over the past five years, our industry has made significant strides in reducing calories and fat in milk. In fact, most schools now serve only low-fat and fat-free milks. Yet, even as we are providing lower fat and lower calorie milks, children are drinking even less milk per capita with a significant decrease in consumption as they reach their teenage years. The recommendations in this report can help to reverse this troubling trend.

"Finally, we appreciate that the Report recognizes the efforts that have been made over the past several years to provide products that appeal to 'nutrition-conscious consumers.' We will continue to expand the variety of dairy products that are healthy, tasty and provide the nutrients that growing children need."

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.

SOURCE International Dairy Foods Association

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