339. The consumption of milk among four social classes of consumers

Abstract

1. Data on milk consumption, and other relevant information, were obtained from 150, 152, 124 and 135 lower working, working, lower professional and professional class families respectively in the city of Leeds during May-June 1939.2. An account is given of the factors affecting the consumption of liquid milk at school and at home, and of tinned milk. An estimate is made of the amount of milk consumed by children over and under 5 years of age and by adults, and of the nutritional adequacy of the milk consumption of those three groups.3. An analysis is made of the use of milk in the home and the importance of the three factors: (a) the number of families making milk dishes, (b) the frequency with which the dishes are made, and (c) the amount used in each dish per person per time, in causing differences in the average liquid milk consumption of the four social classes.4. An estimate is made of the extent to which families were obtaining a proper amount of milk, and the number of the families who were not spending sufficient on food to purchase an adequate amount of milk.5. It is concluded that in investigations into the consumption of milk, the various social classes should be studied separately, otherwise fundamental differences between them fail to be disclosed.