It contains from 2-3 times the amount of these desirable nutrients than most Americans consume. The precise relationship of diet to colon cancer is not completely understood, however it is known that dietary changes have the potential to substantially reduce colon cancer deaths. Recent studies support high calcium intake, especially from milk, may be related to a lower risk of colon cancer. Calcium intake is inadequate in the majority of individuals across all age and income groups in California. Although there is no comparable national survey, there is general national data that report a 20 percent decline in national milk consumption since 1970.
Milk can be a major contributor to excess saturated fat in the diet.
It is important to encourage consumers to increase the intake of low fat and nonfat dairy foods intake since calories and saturated fat found in the higher fat types can contribute to obesity, risk of heart disease, and certain cancers. This may indicate that lower fat California milk enjoys better taste acceptance due to current fortification than Federal standard products. The higher fortification levels result in creamier texture without added fat. There is no guarantee that changing the California milk solids standard will result in price decreases to the consumer. The data discussed above indicate that lowering calcium in milk may result in increased rates of such chronic diseases as osteoporosis, hypertension, and colorectal cancer.