Dairy congress to tackle issue on "fresh" milk

Dairy farmers are set to attack aggressively the issue on the misuse of the label "fresh" for various milk products during the 9th National Dairy Congress on May 24 and 26.

Farina Dy, National Dairy Authority 7 information officer, said in a press statement that one of the unresolved issues hounding the local dairy industry is the constant misuse of the word "fresh" in various milk products that undergo Ultra High Temperature Processing (UHT).

Dy said such is a misuse since milk products that undergo UHT is expected to last for six months if unopened.

However, there is a tendency for vitamin contents to be destroyed by the intense heat applied.

"This misuse has caused confusion among consumers who are misled by the idea that fresh milk products last long. Real fresh milk products are pasteurized at 72 degrees Celsius and last for only 5-7 days, vitamin contents still intact or undiminished," Dy explained.

Farmers who will be attending the dairy congress are expected to raise and attack the issue next week at the Grand Convention Center. The Congress will be hosted by the Cebu Federation of Dairy Cooperatives with the theme "Todo Asenso, Mag-Dairy Business Tayo."

Expected guests are President Arroyo and Department of Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban.

The Philippine Dairy Congress is a major activity of the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines composed of various dairy cooperatives and four dairy federations from all over the country. - Ferliza C. Contratista