JAKARTA - As part of the government's efforts to improve children's nutrition through the Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG), milk participation in the student's daily menu is one of the strategic steps.
Milk is not only rich in calcium and protein, but also supports the optimal growth and development of children. This policy refers to global practices, in which many countries have included milk as the main component in school eating programs.
According to Epi Taufik, a member of the Milk Expert Team from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) of the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), providing milk in school eating programs has become a common practice in various developed countries. In the context of balanced nutrition known as B2SA principles (Various, Nutrient, Balanced, and Safe), milk is an important part of carbohydrates, proteins and fats," Epi said in an online discussion organized by BGN, as quoted by ANTARA.
He added that until now, more than 160 countries have implemented school milk programs as part of a strategy to fulfill children's nutrition. Countries such as Malaysia, Japan, and China have already used milk as a regular intake in the educational environment.
Responding to the issue of lactose intolerance which is often associated with low milk consumption in Indonesia, Epi emphasized that this condition should not be excessively feared.
Intolerance of lactose is not a disease, but a condition in which the body lacks lactase enzymes. This can be overcome by training the body back through gradual milk consumption," he explained.
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He also referred to data from the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) which shows that most cases of lactose intolerance occur at the age of 20 50 years, and are usually experienced by individuals who are not used to consuming milk since childhood. The habit of stopping drinking milk after breastfeeding, according to Epi, also affects reducing the production of lactose pencerna enzymes in the body.
Since birth, the human body is used to digesting lactose through breast milk which contains lactose in a fairly high level, about 7 percent. Meanwhile, the lactose in cow's milk is only about 5 percent. This means that our bodies have naturally been designed to treat lactose, "he added.
Epi suggested that people, especially children, be accustomed to consuming small but routine amounts of milk products. This will help the body adapt and return to optimally producing lactase enzymes.
With an educational and gradual approach, he believes that milk can be an integral part of the diet of Indonesian children, especially in supporting the success of the Free Nutrition Food Program that is being promoted by the government.
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