Today marks World School Milk Day across the UK to highlight the importance of milk as a nutritious and healthy part of children’s diets. Toby Perkins, Labour Member of Parliament for Chesterfield and Shadow Minister for Children and Families, joined nursery staff and children at Families First in Birdholme as representatives of ‘Cool Milk’ emphasized the positive impact milk has on the wellbeing of thousands of children across the UK.

World School Milk Day is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and is celebrated in over 30 countries around the world. Launched in 2000, the day promotes the importance of drinking milk at school to children in a fun and educational way.

Most nursery and primary school children have access to fresh, chilled school milk every day with the support of EU and UK Government subsidies. When milk subsidies were threatened during the Thatcher Government, public outrage made clear the importance of milk and healthy eating as part of children’s daily diet and lifestyle.

After taking on the role of ‘honorary milk monitor’ at Families First for the morning whilst speaking to staff and children at the World School Milk Day event Mr. Perkins said:-

“Milk is so important for children right across the UK as part of a healthy and active lifestyle. Tory Government’s of the past have realized to their cost the way in which school milk is held in such high regard by teachers, parents and medical experts as an essential part of young people’s diet. From my visit to Families First this morning, and from bringing up my own two children, I know that kids benefit significantly from having milk and other healthy foods on a regular basis”.