The Scottish government recently introduced a new 'Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme' which will provide children under 5 with free, fortified plant-based milk. The original Nursery Milk Scheme was established in 1940 and provided ⅓ pint (189ml) of milk per day to all children under 5 years of age attending childcare or schooling.
As more consumers opt to follow a vegan or flexitarian diet, the scheme re-evaluated its offerings to include dairy-free options. According to the Scottish government, "the new Scheme aims to support children to establish healthy diets during the formative years of their life and provide additional nutritional options which will account for children cannot consume cow's milk for medical, ethical or religious reasons."
Image Credit: Live Kindly
What's Driving This Trend
- Plant-based Milk
- The trend of plant-based milk as a healthier and more ethical alternative to cow's milk is driving innovation in the food industry.
- Healthy Snacking
- The growing demand for healthy snacking options is creating opportunities for companies to develop nutritious and portable snack offerings.
- Childhood Nutrition
- The emphasis on childhood nutrition is leading to an increased focus on fortified food and beverage products for young children.
Who This Affects Most
- Plant-based Food
- As the shift towards a plant-based diet continues, companies in the plant-based food industry can develop innovative new products to cater to the growing demand.
- Snack Food
- Companies in the snack food industry can explore opportunities to offer more nutritious options for consumers looking for healthy snack alternatives.
- Childcare Industry
- The childcare industry can take advantage of the new 'Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme' by offering innovative new food and beverage options that support childhood nutrition.
