Health authorities and the dairy industry remain unchanged in their assessment that milk is a healthy drink in the wake of a new book by a New Zealand academic.

Keith Woodford, a professor of farm management and agribusiness at Lincoln University, has claimed that milk containing the common protein A1 beta-casein is linked with heart disease, type 1 diabetes, autism, schizophrenia and other illnesses.

He argued that earlier independent reviews, which found insufficient evidence that the A1 beta-casein was unsafe to consume, omitted important scientific evidence to ‘obscure the truth’.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand - the Australian Government's regulatory body - advises consumers that milk is a safe and nutritious food. Dairy Australia said milk had a long history of safe consumption in Australia and there was no reason for people to start avoiding milk.

Both A1 and A2 beta-casein are common forms of protein in the Australian milk supply. Generally, Australian milk and dairy products usually contain a mixture of A1, A2 and other beta-caesins. The exact proportions are not well defined, but they are thought to contain more A2 than A1 beta-casein.

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