Milk and its role in the American diet.

A decline in milk consumption is postulated as a possible factor contributing to poor nutritional status. Certain common prejudices against milk may, rightly or wrongly, act as barriers to its consumption and, therefore, to its nutritional contributions. Beliefs such as "adults don't need milk;" "raw milk is better than pasteurized milk;" "nonwhite people shouldn't drink milk;" "saturated fat and cholesterol 'cause' heart disease;" "cows are ecologically unsound;" and "nutrition doesn't sell milk" can be counteracted in light of current scientific knowledge and information. It is reaffirmed that milk, in moderation, is a desirable inclusion in most people's diets.