Breakfast Habits In China Raise Concerns, Millennials Forced To Consume Milk To Boost Immunity

A lawmaker suggested the government to incorporate drinking milk in its national strategy to encourage every person to drink at least 300 grams of milk a day – about half a pint.

Representational Picture (AFP)

July 24: China, which remains at the centre of Covid-19 storm with the disease first originating in the country, is now pushing its people to consume milk to get proteins as it helps in building the immune system. According to a report in The Print, the outbreak of the virus has opened up debates in which residents are questioning their breakfast habits and whether to go with steamed buns and congee (porridge), or milk and toast for breakfast. Also Read: India's Covid-19 Tally Nears 13-Lakh Grim Milestone With Highest Single Day Spike Of 49,310 Cases The posed question above is quite normal but the Chinese government is encouraging its people to consume milk to fulfil their protein requirement, a critical component in building the immune system. As per the report, one of the doctors Zhang Hongwen at the infectious diseases department at Shanghai’s Huashan Hospital has emphasised that parents should be giving enough milk and eggs in breakfast instead of congee. The doctor has expressed his inputs about the nation’s diet since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak. His suggestions were taken seriously and during the annual meeting of China’s parliament, a lawmaker suggested the government to incorporate drinking milk in its national strategy to encourage every person to drink at least 300 grams of milk a day – about half a pint. The suggestions triggered debates on social media raising questions on the consumption of as irreplaceable nutrition and if China’s traditional diet needs more animal protein. Apart from this how universal “lifelong milk drinking" may affect food security and the environment because the diversion on food habits and improving immunity could raise global concerns from dairy farms in Australia to deforestation in the Amazon, thereby hampering efforts to curb climate change. As the world’s most populated country, China is second to the US in dairy sales and expected to replace the top slot by 2022. It’s also the third-largest producer of cow’s milk. As per the report, China's  annual per capita consumption has risen to about 34 liters, according to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, that’s still a fraction of the 100 liters the average Australian consumes.