The Government distributes milk mixtures with maltodextrin, vegetable oil and whey to the beneficiaries of the Glass of Milk and to the patients of the Food and Nutrition Program for Patients with Tuberculosis and Family (PANTBC), denounced Jorge Reyes Luján, vice president of the Agricultural Society of Arequipa (SADA).
The leader also warned that these mixtures are causing intestinal problems, allergies, obesity and diabetes, according to specialists. According to Reyes, in the Arequipa region, the provincial municipality distributes these dairy mixtures to 1,500 beneficiaries of the Glass of milk and 400 PANTBC patients, with an investment of S/740,000 and S/1 million 200,000respectively, for purchase.
The company that supplies these products is Grupo Gloria and the brand of the dairy mix is Bonlé. According to the representative of SADA, the purchase by the Government of compounds that are not milk affects the competitiveness of local farmers, since it prevents them from selling their fresh milk at an adequate price in the market that is dominated by Glory.
In this sense, it is worth noting that in Peru almost 6 million liters of fresh milk are produced per day; however, the industry only consumes 67% of this production. However, he points out that, despite having a local production of fresh milk, companies choose to acquire cheaper inputs from abroad to produce dairy mixes.
The Glass of Milk Program benefits children. Photo: ComexPeru
“That hurts us because as demand decreases, the price also decreases,” he says. The expert suggests that this problem could be resolved if the State recommends to the industry for mass consumption the use of pasteurized milk or evaporated milk instead of opting for dairy mixes.
“The market would regulate itself. We do not ask that the Government pay us more or less, but that the market, according to supply and demand, finds a fair price. That is free enterprise and not corporate debauchery.“, it states.
Furthermore, he adds that the Government You could contribute by requiring that your social programs purchase only evaporated milk.
Finally, he anticipates that SADA will submit a request to Digesa to obtain information on the production of evaporated milk by the industry.
Data
Issues. The nutritionist Mayra Garay warned that these dairy mixtures are not recommended for children under 1 year of age or for TB patients.
Risk. He pointed out that the lactose present in the mixtures can cause digestive problems in children, such as diarrhea and vomiting; and the whey can increase glucose levels.
Source: Larepublica
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