Dairy Report: Export Sales Jump, Dietary Guidelines Under Discussion
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More dairy products are continuing to move overseas. The U.S. Dairy Export Council reporting June dairy exports grew 28% in volume and 22% in value compared to last year
Cheese exports hit an all-time record, jumping some 29% over last year. That's believed to be a result of the lower U.S. cheese prices in the spring. Mexico's cheese purchases climbed 62% from a year ago. South Korea's were up 56% and China more than doubled its June cheese buy.
As you can imagine, the demand for hand sanitizer is at an all-time high right now. And the dairy industry is playing a role in helping create new sanitizers.
Take for example New Age Renewable Energy. It operates under its trade name Cayuga Ingredients in King Ferry, New York. It has been transforming unusable dairy byproducts into virus fighting sanitizer under the label "BOS Hand Sanitizer".
Originally, the farmer-owned company was set to open their facility to produce beverage-grade alcohol in March. But the pandemic changed all that. The company says it can distill alcohol from a milk derivative to create the sanitizer. The products contain 80% alcohol and no methanol.
A dairy report, which the federal government will use when it sets its Dietary Guidelines, is receiving both praise and criticism during its public comment period. The National Milk Producers Federation saying in a release the scientific report of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has brought both predictable criticism from dairy detractors and praise from some in the industry.
For the first time the committee is recommending yogurt and cheese as complementary feeding options for infants ages 6-to 12 months.
It's also saying dairy foods should be included in healthy eating patterns for toddlers 12-to-24 months. Other notes include how Americans need more dairy in their diets. The report is open for public comment through Thursday.
