Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast to host Kieran Cuddihy this Wednesday, chief executive of the National Dairy Council (NDC) Zoe Kavanagh spoke about her concern about the reduced trust in dairy products for women aged 20-29 on health grounds.

Kavanagh said that this group are called "the uneasy consumer" as they look for information about diet through social media channels, and are confused as they are getting a very mixed message about what they should eat.

Image trumps science

She spoke about the dangers of young women making dietary choices based on information from online personalities as "image trumps science" in modern day Ireland. Kavanagh also said: "Individuals are setting themselves up as experts, almost suggesting that there is a short circuit to beautiful image and health, and the reality is they are not experts."

She then spoke about some of the alternatives to milk, specifically referring to almond drinks. "Let's crush up some nuts, mix them with water, mix them with emulsifiers and stabilisers – you've got at least 12 ingredients going on there. Nothing there will match the one pure ingredient in milk," Kavanagh said.

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