The official line

The official line is, of course, that everyone over the age of 5 should drink semi-skimmed, 1% fat or skimmed milk, in order to reduce their intake of saturated fat. (Full-fat milk is only recommended until the age of 2, while semi-skimmed – but not skimmed or 1% fat – is fine between the ages of 2 and 5. These lowest-fat versions don’t contain enough calories or, tellingly, the “essential vitamins” young children need.) This advice couldn’t be clearer, and yet I’m seeing more and more evidence from well-regarded sources suggesting it’s not that simple. Award-winning investigative food writer Joanna Blythman is one who believes we’ve got it all wrong. She points out that full-fat milk is not actually a high-fat food.The official line is, of course, that everyone over the age of 5 should drink semi-skimmed, 1% fat or skimmed milk, in order to reduce their intake of saturated fat. (Full-fat milk is only recommended until the age of 2, while semi-skimmed – but not skimmed or 1% fat – is fine between the ages of 2 and 5. These lowest-fat versions don’t contain enough calories or, tellingly, the “essential vitamins” young children need.) This advice couldn’t be clearer, and yet I’m seeing more and more evidence from well-regarded sources suggesting it’s not that simple. Award-winning investigative food writer Joanna Blythman is one who believes we’ve got it all wrong. She points out that full-fat milk is not actually a high-fat food.