Balancing health and sustainability: The role of dairy in the UK diet

• A sustainable, healthy diet is essential for both human health and the environment. It must be accessible, affordable, safe and socially and culturally acceptable
• The UK's Eatwell Guide recognises the important contribution dairy foods can make in providing key nutrients, including high-quality protein, calcium, iodine and B vitamins, which are essential at every stage of life

• Among 11–18 years, 17% fall below the recommended calcium intake and 21% for iodine, placing them at potential risk of deficiency
• Dairy remains a key source of these nutrients, supplying 33–50% of calcium and 34–54% of iodine, highlighting its vital role in supporting a healthy population

• Dairy intake helps children achieve peak bone mass, slows bone loss in adults and reduces falls and fractures in older adults
• It supports healthy weight by promoting fullness, preserving muscle and reducing fat mass, and can be a nutrient-dense option for those undergoing weight-loss therapies
• Evidence shows dairy is generally neutral or beneficial for heart health, with fermented products such as yogurt and cheese offering advantages
• There is strong evidence that low-fat dairy may lower colorectal and breast cancer risk, while moderate intake, especially yogurt, may reduce type 2 diabetes risk

• The way all the nutrients and structures in dairy work together is called the "dairy matrix"
• Research shows the overall health benefits of dairy foods, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, are stronger when you consider the whole food, not just its separate parts

• Calls to reduce animal-sourced foods for sustainability often overlook nutrient needs, cultural fit and overall diet quality
• Large reductions risk worsening micronutrient deficiencies and lowering protein quality, particularly among children, teenagers, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and older adults
• Dairy helps meet nutrient requirements in these groups while aligning with FAO/WHO principles of health, affordability and cultural relevance

• These include carbon storage, habitat management and improved soil health, which support the UK’s net zero ambitions
• Emissions intensity from UK milk production has fallen by 22% since 1990, with milk production now accounting for 2.8% of UK GHG emissions on a GWP100 basis (excluding potential carbon sequestration)
• The UK dairy sector has worked collaboratively across the supply chain to progress sustainability through the Dairy Roadmap since 2008. It remains committed to producing nutrient-dense food for a growing global population while maintaining and enhancing the natural environment

• Most water for dairy farms comes from rainfall rather than mains supply, and pollutants such as ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus are actively reduced
• UK farmers are adopting innovative land management practices, including agroforestry, tree fodder integration and circular livestock systems, that recycle nutrients, minimise waste and optimise outputs

The 2024 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs figures show that despite 69% of UK countryside being farmland, 56% of this is permanent grassland or rough grazing and is often unsuitable for growing crops or any other foods, so raising cattle for milk (and meat, along with sheep) makes best use of this land

• Livestock farming is both a source of greenhouse gas emissions and a provider of carbon sequestration and storage, but national reporting separates these elements, giving an incomplete picture of the net climate impact. A whole-farm approach is needed so that net emissions and sequestration are consistently reflected in national accounting and product footprinting
• The UK dairy sector’s emissions are often compared with global averages, but this can be misleading. Looking at localised assessments and taking targeted action is key to moving past the numbers and seeing real improvements
• UK livestock farms could potentially reach net zero if carbon sequestration is properly accounted for. More data is needed – solutions such as baselining farms in the UK will provide a better picture of this and continue to drive progress. AHDB is leading a baselining pilot to better understand the true environmental contribution of UK farms