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‘Fish milk’ may pose danger to children’s health
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A student drinks milk that was distributed as part of a free school lunch trial on Aug.5 at an elementary school in Tangerang, Banten. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
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utritional experts have raised concerns over a proposal to use "fish milk" for the free nutritious free meals program of incoming President Prabowo Subianto amid insufficient domestic production of cow milk.
The idea was touted by the director of state-owned food holding ID Food, Sis Apik Wijayanto, who recently said that authorities were considering using cow milk alternatives for the free meals program while the government was in the process of increasing milk supply, including by building a mega dairy farm and importing millions of cows.
One such alternative is fish milk, a new product launched by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry last year.
Fish milk is mainly made from fish protein hydrolysate (FPH), which is a protein concentrate created by breaking down fish through a chemical process. FPH is then mixed with emulsifiers, stabilizers, flavorings and other ingredients to create a drink that mimics the taste and consistency of cow milk.
According to the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, fish milk contains many beneficial nutritional properties. It has a high level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other omega-3 fatty acids, and its protein digestibility stood at 96 percent, one percent higher than that of cow milk.
Fish milk is also lactose free, making it safe for people with lactose intolerance. Moreover, it is slightly cheaper to produce than cow milk as well because of an abundance of fish production in the country.
Read also: Mega dairy farm for milk self-sufficiency too optimistic: Farmers
