Milk plays a leading role in the fight against malnutrition -child and adult - both in industrialised countries (where almost the totality of foods used for hospitalized patients are dairy-based), such as in developing countries. Its full supply of amino acids necessary for human life, as the energy provided by its fatty acids, and calcium, high availability digestive become virtually a food irreplaceable.
With the rise of movements vegans and vegetarians, which is a phenomenon that is both in our country and abroad, have seen the emergence of new products on which it is important to educate both consumers and those who market them. Some of these new products try to replace milk, and therefore incorrectly used many times his name, when they should be called drinks. This creates great confusion among consumers, that attribute to this term nutritional characteristics of which are generally the same lack, representing a risk for the proper nutrition and health of these people and their families.
Recently Dr. Juan Aguirre, a pediatrician and specialist in internal medicine at the Hospital Garrahan, wizard of Intermediate Care and Moderate (CIM) published a study that reveals that the infant children of mothers vegan or vegetarian, have a greater risk of suffering a severe neurological compromise due to deficiency of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12, which is fundamental in the transmission of nerve impulses, is not produced by the human body, and is acquired mostly through the consumption of meat, milk, and egg. The same can be found on the official website of the Hospital Garrahan as portals of publications on health.
This article is not intended to discourage the consumption of these drinks, but to raise awareness among consumers about the importance of medical follow-up, and to the sellers in respect of the great responsibility that comes with the denomination and forms of marketing and advertising for the food.
The term “milk” may only be used for the product obtained from the milking total and uninterrupted, in terms of hygiene, of the dairy cow in a good state of health and power ... (CAA Chapter VIII, Article 554)
The use of the word "milk" for the marketing of soy beverages, almond, hazelnut, coconut, rice and other plants both in containers and in rise, is a violation of penalizable as it falls into the category of "misleading advertising". Citizen participation by means of allegations have been made that some businesses were fined and forced to change the signage, and where they had since “milk plant” had to rectify “vegetable drink” as we see in the following photos:
Instructions for reporting the misuse of the term “milk” on the marketing of vegetable beverages in the City of Buenos Aires:
Your participation is important as CABA and GBA are the major centres of consumption of dairy products in the country
(A) LABEL: If the term milk is on the label of the original packaging for the product, the complaint is made in the END (take photo of the label to pull all the data you ask) Phone: 0800-222-6110
(B) CARTELERIA: If the term milk is in a poster, sign or signage trade issuer, reported it to the number 0800-999-2727 the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. You can also enter the complaint using the steps from the following link :
https://gestioncolaborativa.buenosaires.gob.ar/prestaciones
1.- Select there the item and CONTROL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, and then the DEFENSE to THE CONSUMER:
2.- ...then select the option BREACH OF CONSUMER RIGHTS
3.-...to then be able to enter the EXACT location OF the TRADE
4 - finally click on the icon of location... and press the icon of a new application
5.- To finish select the option of MISLEADING ADVERTISING and answer the brief questionnaire with what will be a record of your complaint:
Vet. Agustina Plain
