When the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) demanded that Washington, DC mayor Tony Williams reneg on his promise to declare today “Drink Chocolate Milk Day” in our nation’s capital, we never dreamed that Hizzoner would kowtow to the nanny culture. It turns out that he has indeed cancelled his promised proclamation, as well as a planned appearance in a “Got Milk?” advertisement which would have featured the mayor sporting a milk mustache. The Center For Consumer Freedom would like to officially fill the vacuum left by the irresponsible nannies at PCRM by proclaiming today, May 11, “Drink Chocolate Milk (if you want to) Day.”
PCRM’s warnings about the healthfulness of drinking milk are nothing more than animal-“rights”-inspired hot air, and based on junk science to boot. Just yesterday newspapers in the UK reported that a new study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health shows that people who drink more than a third of a pint of milk daily are 8% less likely to die of heart disease than those who do not. In this study, the risk of death from all causes (including cancers and strokes) was 10% lower for milk drinkers.
As we’ve noted before, PCRM has undeniable ties to the radical activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The two groups’ presidents, Neal Barnard and Ingrid Newkirk, share the chairmanship of the Foundation to Support Animal Protection, a multi-million-dollar resource that provides operating support to both organizations. If you still need proof that PCRM and PETA are in cahoots, consider this: PETA timed its own anti-milk news alert to coincide with PCRM’s press release about Mayor Williams’ change of heart. This time PETA is complaining about the traditional celebratory drink of milk enjoyed by winners of the Indy 500. “Offering someone a glass of cow’s milk,” PETA says, “is like offering someone a cigarette.” The latest research would certainly disagree.
