12 Thai children rushed to hospital after drinking rotten school milk

[bil2054]

As an infant I was unable to have either my mother's milk or cows milk. Goats to the rescue! Now I crave cow's milk and cheese .

It seems true that SE Asians are among the most lactose intolerant folks after infancy, so why the insistence on giving the kids cow's milk? Or if it must be, then at least make it in a more digestible form, like yoghurt or a hard cheese snack. My vote would be for yoghurt as a healthy alternative.

[SheungWan]

If one might disregard for the moment the food nutters on this thread, the problem reported in the story was about a small batch of rotten milk and that suggests that somewhere down the supply line the batch was improperly stored. Whether in this case the problem originates at the supplier or school end, one immediate solution would be for the kids to be educated how to do the 'sniff test' prior to consumption and also look for any signs of curdling.

[Artisi]

Thai children should not be served milk. There is no need for it and it is not a cost effective or healthy service. Traditional beverages of rice milk, coconut milk and even soy milk could be provided.

The idea of serving milk is a marketing initiative from the commercial dairy interests aka the milk monopoly of Thailand. Most asians are lactose intolerant and cannot fully digest the sugars in the milk. This results in gas, bloating, flatulence, and gastric distress. Why would anyone inflict such a condition on children?

If we are talking about health then both coconutmilk and soymilk should not be mentioned!

The fatty acids in coconutmilk are not of the goid kind, coconutmilk and coconut products are considered to be one of the reasons behind the high levels of high blood pressure and high cholesterol in Thailand. Coconut oil for example is even worse than lard in comparison of fatty acids.

Soy milk holds a high level of estrogen so it should not be consumed by boys as it affects the reproductive system!

Rice milk is ok to drink but to me it just taste awful!

Corn milk usually is to sweet for my taste as its made from sweetcorn.

Only artificial milk I like is oat milk as its healthy and tasty.

Please enlighten us where the cholesterol comes from in coconut products. Edited October 6, 2015 by Artisi

[AyG]

The fatty acids in coconutmilk are not of the goid kind, coconutmilk and coconut products are considered to be one of the reasons behind the high levels of high blood pressure and high cholesterol in Thailand. Coconut oil for example is even worse than lard in comparison of fatty acids.

Please enlighten us where the cholesterol comes from in coconut products.

The poster is not saying that coconut products contain cholesterol, but that consuming them increases cholesterol levels in the blood. Most cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver, rather than ingested. Raised by consumption of fats and oils increases the body's production of cholesterol. Ergo, high consumption of coconut oils will lead to high cholesterol in the blood.

[SOTIRIOS]

...'educators'.....pathetic....

[Prbkk]

Thai children should not be served milk. There is no need for it and it is not a cost effective or healthy service. Traditional beverages of rice milk, coconut milk and even soy milk could be provided.

The idea of serving milk is a marketing initiative from the commercial dairy interests aka the milk monopoly of Thailand. Most asians are lactose intolerant and cannot fully digest the sugars in the milk. This results in gas, bloating, flatulence, and gastric distress. Why would anyone inflict such a condition on children?

"Why would anyone inflict such a condition on children?" Why, because we don't give a rat's arse when it comes to turning a profit and it helps us get rid of our old excess stock.

Is anyone aware of what price it is sold to the schools? It might be a very telling question.

And you are correct, there is no need, no health benefit in consuming cows milk, and in the case of Asians it can be detrimental.

Interestingly, I know an Australian Doctor of Chinese parents who was born, raised and educated in Australia, being Chinese (by name) he always attracted a large number of Chinese students studying in Aust. - usual complaint not long after arriving in Aust. was "upset stomach", his standard reply was - "stop eating ice-cream and drinking milk shakes" - problem solved.

Agree but this is usually a very temporary discomfort . In any case, why has it not affected Singaporean Chinese? Increased dairy and higher protein diet= increased height of about 10cm over a 45 year period, ie very significant.

[Prbkk]

As an infant I was unable to have either my mother's milk or cows milk. Goats to the rescue! Now I crave cow's milk and cheese .

It seems true that SE Asians are among the most lactose intolerant folks after infancy, so why the insistence on giving the kids cow's milk? Or if it must be, then at least make it in a more digestible form, like yoghurt or a hard cheese snack. My vote would be for yoghurt as a healthy alternative.

Yes but in Thailand those goods are either taxed to make them absurdly expensive ( imported cheese) or the only product available in most markets is FULL of sugar(yoghurt).

[masuk]

Thai children should not be served milk. There is no need for it and it is not a cost effective or healthy service. Traditional beverages of rice milk, coconut milk and even soy milk could be provided.

The idea of serving milk is a marketing initiative from the commercial dairy interests aka the milk monopoly of Thailand. Most asians are lactose intolerant and cannot fully digest the sugars in the milk. This results in gas, bloating, flatulence, and gastric distress. Why would anyone inflict such a condition on children?

While many Asians are lactose intolerant, it's not correct to say they should not be drinking milk. Kids need calcium for growing bones, and they drink so little milk normally, it's only a fraction of what a western child what have.

Luckily, the health authorities have been given good advice.

All that needs to be done is to ensure that milk which has been reconstituted from powder, is kept refrigerated, and the teachers trained in the importance of this, as they probably don't have it in their households..

UHT milk is normally not a problem, but again, teachers need to be told this. They no doubt need to be instructed that UHT milk does NOT need to be kept cold.

[Nemesis7]

really shocking.

[rethaier]

This is terrible, but don't the kids have noses and taste buds. First sip of bad milk is a dead giveaway.

[katana]

Let's hope it wasn't melamine tainted.

[PaPiPuPePo]

Children shouldn't be fed cow's milk. It's full of fats and proteins meant to turn calves into cows in a couple of years.

The calcium argument is bunk; the high protein in cow's milk negates the calcium, studies have clearly shown that.

The dairy industry has been a political player in the USA for 100 years or so and got their product declared essential for human life. No one seems to have considered the folly of humans basically suckling at another species' teats (even if there are middlemen) into adulthood.

The rise in dairy consumption in countries like Japan which started after WWII correlates with Japan's heart disease rate going from 38th to 3rd place worldwide. And turning many Japanese into milky, soft-bodied plumpers. If you've been coming to Thailand since the 80s/90s you can see the same trend among younger Thais.

It also causes allergies and other health problems, all kinds of hormones in it not intended for humans. And it makes your breath smell bad to boot. Stay away from milk and cheese for a while and they'll appeal to you like straining your tea or coffee through a dirty sock.

Traditional Asian cultures had tons of wisdom about how to live but the hegemony of the West has destroyed much of it and put them on the same road to ruinous health and environmental problems* we're driving down.

* 1.5 billion cows for dairy and beef adding 15% or so to global warming. Meanwhile we're making almost every other large mammal go extinct.

If we listened to every crack pot idea about which foods are good/bad for you there would be nothing left to eat

Dairy products is bad because not designed for humans etc

Meats are bad full of fake estrogen

Chickens are bad because antibiotics

Fish are bad because pollutants

Vegetables are bad because gm and pesticides

So what can I still eat??

Have a nice glass of water sir, oho wait

There maybe heavy metals in the water that cause all sorts....

My comments are based on extensive research into medical studies that have been performed for decades. As with climate change and many other unpleasant realities, ignorance and avoidance doesn't do any good.

You even agree and expand on my point, but think because a lot of the food we eat is bad for us (and there are TONs of bad pesticides used in Thailand) the best thing to do is stick your fingers in your ears and sing lalalalala but that doesn't change the reality of the situation.

Knowledge is power, ignorance and fear of facing reality is enabling those who damage your health as well as that of your loved ones if you have any. That's your choice, good luck with it.

[English_M_in_Bkk]

Amazing Happiness Thailand, where children are poisoned with spoiled milk that is decades old....

500 Baht per sick child, slap on the wrist, next please.....

Amazing Thai Visa Forum, one case of this happening in the thousands of schools serving milk around the country - and you would think they are being poisoned on a daily basis

If a Thai farted you lot would think it was an earthquake

[PaPiPuPePo]

Children shouldn't be fed cow's milk. It's full of fats and proteins meant to turn calves into cows in a couple of years.

The calcium argument is bunk; the high protein in cow's milk negates the calcium, studies have clearly shown that.

The dairy industry has been a political player in the USA for 100 years or so and got their product declared essential for human life. No one seems to have considered the folly of humans basically suckling at another species' teats (even if there are middlemen) into adulthood.

The rise in dairy consumption in countries like Japan which started after WWII correlates with Japan's heart disease rate going from 38th to 3rd place worldwide. And turning many Japanese into milky, soft-bodied plumpers. If you've been coming to Thailand since the 80s/90s you can see the same trend among younger Thais.

It also causes allergies and other health problems, all kinds of hormones in it not intended for humans. And it makes your breath smell bad to boot. Stay away from milk and cheese for a while and they'll appeal to you like straining your tea or coffee through a dirty sock.

Traditional Asian cultures had tons of wisdom about how to live but the hegemony of the West has destroyed much of it and put them on the same road to ruinous health and environmental problems* we're driving down.

* 1.5 billion cows for dairy and beef adding 15% or so to global warming. Meanwhile we're making almost every other large mammal go extinct.

I have never seen so much BS/lies in one post

eg just a couple of many untruths above

Garlic and onions. "Garlic and onions top the list when it comes to halitosis," says Lisa Harper Mallonee, MPH, RD, associate professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry.

Several other foods – including dairy products, a diet heavy in meat, orange juice, and soda – sometimes get talked about as bad breathtriggers. Mallonee says she doesn’t have “any sound scientific evidence” about that.

One food that's shown a protective role against such diseases is one that is, unfortunately, typically demonized by health agencies and the media: raw milk.

Raw Milk Drinkers Have Lower Rates of Childhood Allergies and Asthma

School-aged children who drank raw milk were 41 percent less likely to develop asthma and about 50 percent less likely to develop hay fever than children who drank store-bought (pasteurized) milk, according to one study that used data from more than 8,000 children.2

Well done Sir! Call my whole post BS and then sort-of address one minor point without refuting it, to say nothing of the main points I made.

But I learned a lesson here, posting sound information on this forum full of people with hair-trigger uninformed opinions is a waste of time.

Edited October 11, 2015 by PaPiPuPePo

[wow64]

Look on the bright side... They didnt die from electric shock after drinking water... That problem has been solved.

Just waiting on a school director to have another episode in his suv and kill another dozen kids.

My glass is half full.

Sent from my c64

[Najinsky]

If we are talking about health then both coconutmilk and soymilk should not be mentioned!

The fatty acids in coconutmilk are not of the goid kind, coconutmilk and coconut products are considered to be one of the reasons behind the high levels of high blood pressure and high cholesterol in Thailand. Coconut oil for example is even worse than lard in comparison of fatty acids.

Soy milk holds a high level of estrogen so it should not be consumed by boys as it affects the reproductive system!

Rice milk is ok to drink but to me it just taste awful!

Corn milk usually is to sweet for my taste as its made from sweetcorn.

Only artificial milk I like is oat milk as its healthy and tasty.

Unsweetened Almond milk is excellent and my milk of choice.

But it's hard to come by here, TOPS sometimes have it, but all too often it's out of stock while the other milks gather dust.

[Najinsky]

If we listened to every crack pot idea about which foods are good/bad for you there would be nothing left to eat

Dairy products is bad because not designed for humans etc

Meats are bad full of fake estrogen

Chickens are bad because antibiotics

Fish are bad because pollutants

Vegetables are bad because gm and pesticides

So what can I still eat??

Have a nice glass of water sir, oho wait

There maybe heavy metals in the water that cause all sorts....

It does often seem that way, especially if you get your news from the mainstream where many different factors influence what gets aired.

However, things are now much more well understood than it appears and help is at hand.

If you are interested in what you can (and should) eat and why (and I feel most people should be), then the must read book is "Eat to Live" by Dr Joel Fuhrman.

Some mistake it for a diet because he gives sample recipes but the real point of the book is to inform you about the reality of your food choices.

His basic premise is "Health = Nutrients per Calorie". Too many calories with insufficient nutrients leads to poor health, while sufficient nutrients without excess calories lead to better health.

I still drink too much and eat some bad stuff, but by making some simple changes based on the information, I've lost 10kg of the 30kg I need to lose and have better health and energy.

Can't recommend reading this book highly enough.