World Milk Day 2017 : Know 10 interesting facts about Milk and 'Raise a Glass'

World Milk Day is celebrated every year on June 1. This day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to recognise the importance of milk as a global food.

This day is celebrated to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities connected with the dairy sector

Milk is an important part of a healthy balanced diet.  World Milk Day provides the perfect opportunity to spread the word and celebrate all aspects of milk and dairy products  in many countries around the globe. World Milk Day was first designated by the FAO in 2001. 

June 1 was chosen as the date because many countries were already celebrating a milk day during that time of year. In 2016, World Milk Day was celebrated in over 40 countries.

This year Milk Day theme is “Raise a Glass” and a campaign hashtag: #WorldMilkDay. 

Here are 10 interesting facts

1. Cows produce 90 per cent of the world’s milk needs.

2. The current UK annual milk production stands at 13.7 billion litres (3.01 billion gallons).

3.The world’s first commercial dromedary dairy opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1986, selling camel milk at £1.20 a litre.

4. Cow’s milk was first drunk by humans 10,000 years ago in what is now Afghanistan and Iran.

5.By 3000 B.C., Ancient Egyptians were large dairy consumers, and recorded their dairy farming on temple walls.

6.At about 25 cents per serving, milk is a low-cost option with nine nutrients essential to our health including protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin as well as vitamins A, D and B12.

7.The top milk drinking country is Finland drinking about 95 gallons of milk/ person/yr. 

8. Cow’s milk was first drunk by humans 10,000 years ago in what is now Afghanistan and Iran.

9.Buffalo milk has 25 per cent more protein than cow’s milk.

10.Milk is the only drink in the world that contains such a large range of naturally occurring nutrients.