MONROE - People in the U.S. are drinking one-fourth less the amount of milk per capita than they did 40 years ago - 69 pounds less annually, or about 3 ounces per day.
Annual consumption of fluid milk and cream in 2010, compared to 1970, fell from 275 pounds to 206 pounds per person, according to 2012 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics. They have also decreased consumption of evaporated, condensed and dry milks; ice creams; cottage cheese; and butter in their diets.
But there is some good news for Wisconsin cheesemakers and dairy farmers.
People have almost tripled their cheese consumption in that same 40-year period. People are now eating 33.3 pounds of natural cheese each year, compared to 11.4 pounds in 1970.
Cheese consumption has taken a steady rise in the past 40 years, but not all cheeses have gained equally in popularity.
Out of the 21.9 pounds of extra cheese each person on average is now eating every year, Mozzarella consumption rose the most, by more than 10 pounds, from 1.2 to 11.3 pounds. People are eating 6.3 pounds more American cheese, 13.3 pounds up from 7 pounds annually.
Americans today are consuming about 23,000 more calories in Mozzarella (at 85 calories per ounce) and American cheese (at 94 calories per ounce) alone, than they were in 1970. That many calories is enough to pack on more than 6.5 pounds of body fat annually, more than enough to make up for the decrease in whole milk consumption, and the rest of the cheese they eat, 5.6 pounds, probably adds an additional 9,800 calories, another 2.8 pounds.
People's taste for cheese has also gravitated toward other types of Italian cheese, up 2.4 pounds, and cream cheeses and Neufchatel, up 1.8 pounds annually.
Annual consumption of other cheeses, like Swiss, 1.2 pounds; Brick and Muenster, 0.4 pounds; and Blue cheeses, 0.2 pounds, has remained almost steady these past 40 years.
But the calories and fat content of fresh, natural Wisconsin cheese should not scare people into scratching it off their New Year's diets.
According to the National Dairy Council, other countries have higher cheese consumption, yet lower incidence of hypertension and obesity. Germany, France and Greece all consume more cheese and have half the rate of obesity than the United States.
Cheese carries some health benefits.
It is the number two source of dietary calcium for Americans and provides high-quality protein.
Certain cheeses, such as Cheddar, Swiss, Blue, Monterey Jack and processed American cheese, among others, have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of dental cavities.
For more information on the benefits of cheese, the National Dairy Council has two brochures, Cheese and Nutrition, and Cheese and Healthy Eating, with science-based facts on cheese and healthy eating. Both are available for download at www.nationaldairycouncil.org
Annual consumption of fluid milk and cream in 2010, compared to 1970, fell from 275 pounds to 206 pounds per person, according to 2012 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics. They have also decreased consumption of evaporated, condensed and dry milks; ice creams; cottage cheese; and butter in their diets.
But there is some good news for Wisconsin cheesemakers and dairy farmers.
People have almost tripled their cheese consumption in that same 40-year period. People are now eating 33.3 pounds of natural cheese each year, compared to 11.4 pounds in 1970.
Cheese consumption has taken a steady rise in the past 40 years, but not all cheeses have gained equally in popularity.
Out of the 21.9 pounds of extra cheese each person on average is now eating every year, Mozzarella consumption rose the most, by more than 10 pounds, from 1.2 to 11.3 pounds. People are eating 6.3 pounds more American cheese, 13.3 pounds up from 7 pounds annually.
Americans today are consuming about 23,000 more calories in Mozzarella (at 85 calories per ounce) and American cheese (at 94 calories per ounce) alone, than they were in 1970. That many calories is enough to pack on more than 6.5 pounds of body fat annually, more than enough to make up for the decrease in whole milk consumption, and the rest of the cheese they eat, 5.6 pounds, probably adds an additional 9,800 calories, another 2.8 pounds.
People's taste for cheese has also gravitated toward other types of Italian cheese, up 2.4 pounds, and cream cheeses and Neufchatel, up 1.8 pounds annually.
Annual consumption of other cheeses, like Swiss, 1.2 pounds; Brick and Muenster, 0.4 pounds; and Blue cheeses, 0.2 pounds, has remained almost steady these past 40 years.
But the calories and fat content of fresh, natural Wisconsin cheese should not scare people into scratching it off their New Year's diets.
According to the National Dairy Council, other countries have higher cheese consumption, yet lower incidence of hypertension and obesity. Germany, France and Greece all consume more cheese and have half the rate of obesity than the United States.
Cheese carries some health benefits.
It is the number two source of dietary calcium for Americans and provides high-quality protein.
Certain cheeses, such as Cheddar, Swiss, Blue, Monterey Jack and processed American cheese, among others, have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of dental cavities.
For more information on the benefits of cheese, the National Dairy Council has two brochures, Cheese and Nutrition, and Cheese and Healthy Eating, with science-based facts on cheese and healthy eating. Both are available for download at www.nationaldairycouncil.org