Who is consuming milk?

Not surprisingly, children consumed the most milk in 2005-2006, followed by teenagers and then adults. The average intake of fluid milk (see definition on page 7) was slightly more than 3/4 cup for individuals 2 years of age and over. (One cup equals 8 fluid ounces or about 237 milliliters.)

Figure 1

Mean intakes of fluid milk by gender and age, WWEIA, NHANES 2005-2006.

Has intake of fluid milk changed since 1977-1978?

Yes. Fluid milk intakes by children and adolescents decreased, though intakes by adults did not. Among children age 2-11 years, overall consumption was about 1/2 cup (3-1/2 fluid ounces) less in 2005-2006 than in 1977-1978. The greatest change between 1977-1978 and 2005-2006 was observed for adolescents age 12-19 years, whose mean intake of milk decreased by nearly one-half - from about 1-3/4 cup (14 fluid ounces) per day in 1977-1978 to slightly less than 1 cup (7-3/4 fluid ounces) in 2005-2006.

Figure 2

Mean intake of fluid milk by age group, 1977-1978 and 2005-2006. NOTES: ** Statistically significant difference between survey years (p<.01).

Even though the mean intake of fluid milk did not change for adults, the percentage of individuals consuming milk decreased significantly between 1977-1978 and 2005-2006 for both of the adult age groups, as it also did for children and adolescents.

Figure 3

Percent of individuals consuming fluid milk by age group, 1977-1978 and 2005-2006. NOTES: ** Statistically significant difference between survey years (p<.01).

Does milk consumption differ by race and ethnicity?

Yes. In all age groups except adults age 50 years and older, non-Hispanic blacks consumed significantly less milk than non-Hispanic whites and Mexican Americans. In 2005-2006, among adults age 20 years and older, non-Hispanic whites and Mexican Americans consumed on average about 3/4 cup of milk (about 6 fluid ounces), whereas non-Hispanic blacks consumed a little over 1/3 cup (about 3 fluid ounces).

Figure 4

Mean intake of fluid milk by race/ethnicity and age group, 2005-2006. NOTES: Sample size of other races too small to produce national estimates. ** Statistically significant difference between race/ethnic groups (p<.01).

Does milk consumption vary by income?

Although no overall trend was seen, adolescents in the highest income group consumed significantly more milk than those with income at 101-185 percent of the poverty threshold (see definition on page 7). There were no significant differences in other age groups.

Figure 5

Mean intake of fluid milk by percent of poverty threshold and age group, 2005-2006. NOTES: Means of groups marked with ** differ significantly from one another (p<.01).

How is milk consumed?

In 2005-2006, over 99 percent of total fluid milk was consumed in one of four ways (see definitions on page 7):

• Plain (unflavored) milk consumed as a beverage
• Flavored milk and milk drinks
• Plain milk added to cereal
• Plain milk added to another beverage

Although females consumed less milk than males, the proportion of milk consumed in each of the four ways by males and females was comparable. For all age groups, plain milk consumed as a beverage was the largest contributor to total milk intake. However, mean amounts of plain milk consumed as a beverage by older groups were considerably lower than those consumed by younger groups.

Figure 6

Milk consumption patterns by age group, WWEIA/NHANES 2005-2006. NOTES: 1 cup of milk weighs approximately 244 grams.

How does drinking plain milk impact nutrient intakes?

Fluid milk contributed substantially to total daily nutrient intake. Milk provided over 50 percent of the daily intake of vitamin D, over 30 percent of calcium, and over 20 percent of vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B₁₂, and phosphorus for milk reporters (see definition on page 7). Because young children (age 2-11 years) consumed significantly more milk than teens or adults, milk provided higher proportions of their total intake of many nutrients.

Table 1

Fluid milk’s contributions to nutrient intakes for those who consumed fluid milk on the intake day, 2005-2006.

Is consuming milk associated with more favorable nutrient intakes?

Yes, for many nutrients. Individuals who reported milk on the intake day consumed slightly more food energy (calories), but not more total fat or saturated fat (not shown), than individuals who did not report milk. Milk reporters also had significantly higher intakes of several “shortfall” nutrients, i.e., nutrients that are usually low enough in the diets of both children and adults to be of national concern (7). For milk reporters, intakes of the shortfall nutrients potassium and calcium were 16 percent higher and 49 percent higher, respectively, than those of nonreporters. The most favorable difference seen was in vitamin D intake. Milk reporters obtained 180 percent more vitamin D than nonreporters, which means that the vitamin D intake of milk reporters was nearly three times that of nonreporters.

Figure 7

Percent difference between mean intakes of selected nutrients for those who consumed fluid milk on the intake day versus those who did not, 2005-2006.

Definitions

Flavored milk and milk drinks

Milk-based drinks with caloric additions. Included in this category are such beverages as chocolate- and fruit-flavored milk, milk shakes, hot chocolate/cocoa, malted milk, and eggnog.

Fluid milk

Includes plain and flavored milk and milk drinks.

Milk reporters

For the purposes of this data brief, “reporting milk” means consuming milk on the intake day. Some people who did not report milk on this day may have consumed it on other days.

Plain milk

Cow’s or goat’s milk with no flavoring or anything else added to it. Includes whole, reduced fat (2%), lowfat (1%), nonfat/skim, and acidophilus milk; buttermilk; and reconstituted dry milk. Excludes (a) milk substitutes such as soy milk and rice milk, and (b) milk that was an ingredient in a food item, e.g., milk in a cream soup or in macaroni and cheese.

Poverty thresholds

Percent of poverty level is based on family income, family size, and composition using U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds. The poverty threshold categories are related to Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs, www.fns.usda.gov.

Data Source

Estimates for 2005-2006 are based on data from What We Eat in America (WWEIA), the dietary intake interview component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (9). The NHANES sample was designed to represent the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population. In 2005-2006, a total of 8,552 individuals age 2 years and older provided complete and reliable dietary intake data. Pregnant and lactating females (n=404) and breastfeeding children (n= 3) were excluded, yielding a final sample of 8,145 (4,146 males and 3,999 females). Results presented for 1977-1978 are based on Nationwide Food Consumption Survey data from 29,098 individuals (15,945 males and 13,153 females) (10). Sample weights were applied in all analyses to produce nationally representative estimates.

In this report, one day of 24-hour dietary recall data was used for each individual. In 2005-2006, 24-hour recall data were obtained by a trained interviewer using the Automated Multiple Pass Method (AMPM). The AMPM is a research-based, multiple-pass approach employing 5 steps designed to enhance complete and accurate food recall. Nutrient intakes were based on intakes of foods and beverages only, not supplements.

References

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Moshfegh A, Goldman J, Cleveland L. What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual nutrient intakes from food compared to Dietary Reference Intakes. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2005.

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Weinberg LG, Berner LA, Groves JE. Nutrient contributions of dairy foods in the United States, Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, 1994-1996, 1998. J Am Diet Assoc 2004;104:895–902. [PubMed: 15175587]

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Ranganathan R, Nicklas TA, Yang S, Berenson GS. The nutrition impact of dairy product consumption on dietary intakes of adults (1995-1996): The Bogalusa Health Study. J Am Diet Assoc 2005;105:1391–1400. [PubMed: 16129080]

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Cotton PA, Subar AF, Friday JE, Cook A. Dietary sources of nutrients among U.S. adults, 1994 to 1996. J Am Diet Assoc 2004;104:921–930. [PubMed: 15175590]

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010: Understanding and improving health. 2nd ed.Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000. Available from: www​.healthypeople.gov/document/ (accessed June 21, 2010).

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Weaver CM. Role of dairy beverages in the diet. Physiol Behav 2010: 100:63–6. [PubMed: 20138073]

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Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. Available from: http://www​.cnpp.usda​.gov/DGAs2010-DGACReport.htm (accessed June 22, 2010).

[8]

Cook AJ, Friday JE. 2005. Pyramid Servings Intakes in the United States, 1999-2002, 1 Day. CNRG Table Set 3.0. USDA Agricultural Research Service. Available from: www​.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles​/Place/12355000​/foodlink/ts_3-0.pdf (accessed August 4, 2010).

[9]

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Food Surveys Research Group (Beltsville, MD) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (Hyattsville, MD). What We Eat in America, NHANES 2005-2006. Available at: http://www​.cdc.gov/nchs​/nhanes/nhanes2005-2006/nhanes05_06​.htm (accessed May 26, 2010).

[10]

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Food Surveys Research Group (Beltsville, MD). The National Food Consumption Survey 1977-1978. Information available at: http://www​.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main​.htm?modecode​=12-35-50-00.

Sebastian RS, Goldman JD, Wilkinson Enns C, LaComb RP. Fluid Milk Consumption in the United States: What We Eat In America, NHANES 2005-2006. Food Surveys Research Group Dietary Data Brief No. 3. September 2010. Available from: http://ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=19476.