Milk with added 'extras' won't aid health: Study

Fonterra has rejected a study showing that consumers don't benefit from drinking milk with added nutrients. Photo / Greg Bowker

Drinking milk with added calcium, vitamins or omega-3 is unlikely to make any difference to your health, a study has found.

The Australian consumer group Choice looked at 100 leading milk brands in Australia and found that milk marketed as having low-saturated fats, extra omega-3 fatty acids, A2 proteins, vitamin D and calcium had little effect on the health of people drinking them.

But New Zealand's biggest milk supplier, Fonterra, has hit back, saying the researchers' claims are nonsense.

The study said the only thing a buyer should take note of was the difference in the levels of fat in the milk.

"Despite the profusion of brands and the plethora of claims, the only really meaningful choice when buying milk is between full-cream, low-fat and skim," Choice said.

A person would have to drink up to two litres of milk with added omega-3 to get the same benefit as they would from eating 50g of salmon, the study showed.

Fonterra New Zealand managing director Peter McClure said New Zealanders could be assured that various milks it sold had all the benefits they proclaimed.

Extra calcium helped people with osteoporosis, extra protein built muscle, and Mega milk had more fat and was intended for children.

"So to say there's no benefit is nonsense."

Dietetic Association president Julie Carter said milks with extra nutrients suited only some people.

Milk with added calcium had great benefits for children who did not get enough calcium in their diets.

"A child that eats really well - fruit, meat - should have full-fat milk right up until they're at least 2 years old. Others may need the extra-calcium milk."

Ms Carter said most adults should choose reduced-fat milks, such as the light blue and light green options.

Choice's research - which also looked at organic milk - found people were better off buying generic milk from supermarkets.

It had the same nutritional benefits as milk sold in specialist outlets, but at a cheaper price.

All the tested milks were a good source of calcium, Choice said.

- additional reporting AAP