RIYADH/JEDDAH, 13 January 2008 — Saudi Arabia marked its second annual National Milk Day yesterday to promote the importance of including milk in people’s diet, especially in the diet of children whose bones need calcium for proper growth.
But on the same day, many consumers were confused whether they should be buying or boycotting dairy products, thanks to a widely distributed SMS message that has called for a five-day boycott to protest rising prices.
The boycott seems to have been organized to coincide with the Milk Day. The group that has organized the boycott is unknown, but many in the Kingdom have received the same message, which is also circulating on Arabic websites.
The SMS message cites Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab (God be pleased with him), who once called on people to boycott meat suppliers who inflated prices.
Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Manie launched the National Milk Day from his office in the capital, saying that his ministry has coordinated with seven major dairy producers in the Kingdom to distribute seven million milk cartons to all segments of society.
“We are continuing the national day this year ... to create awareness among the public about a healthy diet,” Al-Manie said. “By drinking milk as a complete nutrient, future generations will be less disease-prone.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khaled Mirghalani, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said that school children all over the Kingdom — boys and girls — received free milk cartons yesterday as part of the campaign.
“Over five million milk cartons were distributed to public schools all over the Kingdom,” he told Arab News. He said the national campaign was part of the ministry’s drive to cooperate with civil societies as well as government bodies to highlight the importance of nutrition for future generations.
He said the drive aims to create awareness about the importance of including calcium in one’s diet, noting the rise of osteoporosis in the Kingdom. The Education Ministry prohibits school cafeterias from selling carbonated drinks because of their link to childhood obesity.
According to Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, CEO of National Agricultural Development Co. (Nadec), a major dairy firm, per capita milk consumption in the Kingdom at 50-60 liters per year is half of that in Europe.
Al-Marai Dairy Company, one of the sponsors of the campaign, yesterday started a project to distribute milk cartons to 55 percent of students over the next two weeks. “We participate in many activities that serve society,” said Munther Al-Tayyeb, director of public relations at Al-Marai Company.
He said the boycott would not affect his company’s policy of participating in programs that would serve society. He declined further comment on the boycott call.
