Washington Post Finds Government's Anti-Whole Milk Stance May Have Been Wrong

October 9th, 2015 1:47 PM

Just because the government says it, doesn’t mean it is true and that especially applies to dietary advice and nutrition.

For years, the U.S. government and the liberal news media dissuaded people from consuming saturated fats including dairy fat that can be found in whole milk. But new science shows “certain foods that are high in fat seem to be beneficial.”

On October 6, The Washington Post reported that government’s recommendation to “Replace whole milk and full-fat milk products with fat-free or low-fat choices,” slashed whole milk sales for years and may have been wrong all along. The initial research used by the government to push for low-fat options did not actually show that the saturated fat in whole milk (or any other food) caused heart disease.

“Research published in recent years indicates that the opposite might be true: millions might have been better off had they stuck with whole milk,” the Post reported.

A recent eight year study with 2,800 participants found that, “those who had consumed the most dairy fat were far less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who had consumed the least,” according to the Post.

The media, however, supported the government’s advice to spurn whole milk and scared people away from whole milk.

On June 10, 2010, the CBS The Early Show invited Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian, to make health recommendations. She came down hard on whole milk, saying that the saturated fat in whole milk, other dairy products, and red meat, “increases the risk of heart disease,” because it is the, “globby, hard, clumpy kind.”

NBC did the same thing on November 9, 2010. On Today, registered dietitian and nutritionist Joy Bauer advised a parent to avoid whole milk and full-fat yogurt for all but very young children. “Once they hit two and all the way through adulthood, it's really worth your while to keep skim milk and 1 percent milk, reduced-fat cheese and nonfat plain and flavored yogurts in the house.”

On May 14, 2013, CBS This Morning featured Rip Esselstyn, vegan author of My Beef with Meat, who proceeded to condemn all meat and dairy products. “Most people don't know that one glass of whole milk has the same amount of saturated fat as four slices of bacon,” Esselstyn warned.

While not decrying whole milk directly, ABC reporter Katie Couric lamented that the government was “working at cross purposes,” by encouraging skim milk while promoting cheese made with the fat removed from the milk, on the May 8, 2014, Good Morning America.

On February 11, 2015, Today highlighted health advice from contributor and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, Doctor Roshini Raj. Raj said that, “science is not that simple and certain forms of dietary cholesterol may not be so bad for you.” Yet she still demonized whole milk by continuing, “things like saturated fats is the much more of a danger and you need to look out for the fatty meats, whole milk, things like that.”

The media often condemn dietary choices like sugary beverages, salt and even particular restaurants’ menu items. Liberal news outlets promoted opposition of trans fat without admitting the same people calling for bans had once campaigned on its behalf. The broadcast networks have also gone after salt, rarely including the other side.