Cambridge MP, Daniel Zeichner, swapped his parliamentary duties to become an honorary ‘milk monitor’ when he visited Brunswick Nursery School to mark World School Milk Day. He called for healthy nutritious milk to be made available in all local schools.

World School Milk Day, first celebrated in September 2000, and since becoming an annual event promoted by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, celebrates the health and nutritional benefits of school milk programmes. This year, schools and nurseries across the country will take part in a variety of activities to mark the day, including various themed activities within the classroom.

While it is a statutory obligation for schools to offer milk to pupils every day, not all schools are aware or able to deliver on this. Mr Zeichner believes more needs to be done to promote milk schemes so that all education settings opt in, therefore ensuing all children receive the free and healthy milk to which they are entitled.

Mr Zeichner acted as a milk monitor, performing the duty to show his support for milk as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks. He said: “we know milk is excellent for children’s growth and development. On World School Milk Day, I repeat calls for all children to be able to drink healthy nutritious milk, and I encourage all schools to take steps to ensure this happens. It is time to reinvigorate the Great British institution and historic Labour initiative of free school milk. I look forward to meeting some of my youngest constituents this Friday”.