The eighth annual Welsh Consumer Attitudes to Food Survey, published in 2008 by the Food Standards Agency revealed that consumers were continuing to take a keen interest in healthy eating. Nearly nine out of ten respondents claimed that healthy eating was important to them, while 88% also believed that a limited budget is not a barrier to healthy eating. There was overwhelming agreement (83%) that parents should be strict with children and make them eat healthily. Just over three quarters (76%) of consumers were said to be aware that they should be eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day and 50% claimed to be putting this into practice by eating at least ‘5-a-day’.

Vending International finds out why chocolate milk represents a healthier alternative to soft drinks and snacks, while taking a closer look at why it’s just as good hot!

According to The Daily Telegraph, a pint of milk a day cuts the chances of heart disease and stroke by up to a fifth. It is also said to cut the risk of developing diabetes and colon cancer. “The findings published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition do not distinguish between low and high fat milk, though they do seem to suggest that the health benefits of drinking milk outweigh any dangers that lie in its consumption,” says the article. In more worrying statistics, however, it adds that within the UK milk drinking has fallen by around one third during the past 25 years: “Milk is the main source of calcium and within the UK it has been estimated that 20 per cent of adolescent girls and 10 per cent of boys have less than the recommended intakes of calcium.”

The Food Standards Agency’s seventh UK-wide Consumer Attitudes to Foods Survey, published in February 2007, found healthy eating to be a key concern for consumers - noting a significant yearly increase in the number of consumers who are aware that they should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. But it wasn't all good news for Health. Almost a third snacked on biscuits and cakes and a further fifth on crisps and savoury snacks.