Mooo: Incidence of Milk Consumption by Children in Fast Food Restaurants University of Idaho Sharon Stoll PhD Jennifer Beller PhD Chelsea Hermon Brandon Freitas Julie Matthews Patrick Casey McLaughlin The Study The purpose of this descriptive and ethical study on child health was to observe and describe dietary beverage consumption of children at fast food restaurants. Given the several studies that indicate the importance of milk in a child’s diet, and that substituting a carbonated drink for milk can have a negative impact on the calcium intake, we wanted to observe how often milk was chosen above a carbonated drink. If the results indicated that milk was being consumed infrequently, the next step would be to work with restaurants to try to market milk more effectively. Our Observations Study One Over a six week time frame, we observed three different fast food restaurants, in one hour increments. We observed 122 children during peak meal times, primarily on Saturday afternoons. The study was done anonymously, with the number of milk cartons on the children’s trays being tallied. Also noted was how many purchased carbonated beverages. Our results found that only five children, or 4.1 percent, chose milk, while 117 of the 122 chose a carbonated drink. This leads us to the conclusion that milk is rarely being consumed at fast food restaurants. Study Two In the first part of the second study, customers in three northwest cities were observed to determine what kinds of drinks were being purchased at fast food restaurants. Of the 451 individuals observed, only 12, or 2 percent, purchased milk for their child, while 410 purchased a carbonated drink, 20 bought coffee, and nine bought water. Again, these results lead us to the conclusion that milk isn’t being consumed at fast food restaurants. In the second part of the study, fifty parents were randomly selected to answer a 12 question survey regarding their child’s beverage consumption. Forty six of the fifty answered that they let their child choose their own drink at restaurants, while four chose for them. Fifteen told us that their child drink 1-2 glasses of whole milk per day, but 35 stated that their children seldom drank any kind of milk. Results show that children are not only not drinking milk at restaurants, they are not drinking it at home either. Reasons that Milk Consumption is Important in Children Milk contains a high concentration of calcium Calcium is a required building block for healthy skeletons Calcium is also required in body fluids Reduced calcium intake in youth can lead to a sharp rise in the possibility of osteoporosis Milk also contains many essential vitamins and minerals Abstract Increased carbonated soda consumption and decreased milk intake in children is a serious national nutritional problem. The purpose of this descriptive study on child health is to observe and describe dietary beverage consumption of children at fast food restaurants. A group of researchers surveyed the incidence of milk consumption by children at national food chains. Two separate studies were completed, in order to better address the growing problem of a lack of milk consumption in young children. Once specific problem areas are located, steps can be taken to remedy the situations. Statement of the Problem If the purpose of physical education is to develop and enhance the physical well being through activity and instruction, then we have an obligation to teach how nutrition effects those processes of the body. It is important for children to consume milk, and we wanted to collect data to see the rate of consumption at fast food restaurants. Studies also show that drinking carbonated beverages is correlated with not having enough calcium in the body. To observe the beverages being chosen at fast food restaurants might give us, as educators, information that we can use to not only better the health of our students, but of our general community. By working with restaurants, we can raise awareness to the issue of milk consumption in children. The overall purpose of this study is to determine how often milk is being consumed at fast food restaurants, and to try to come up with ways to make milk consumption more frequent. Results Results indicate children do not consume milk at fast food restaurants and some in 2-5 year old girls, consuming an 8 ounce can of carbonated soda decreases the likelihood of achieving the RDA of calcium levels by 40% and that substituting 8 ounces of soda for 8 ounces of milk can increase the likelihood of NOT achieving calcium levels by 296%. It would appear that either parents are uneducated about the problem of calcium and the ingestion of milk at fast food restaurants or are ignoring the concerns about calcium uptake in their children. Center for ETHICS*