As winter draws in and the days get shorter, Dale Farm has launched a new Vitamin D milk following a recent study from the Public Health Agency (PHA) which revealed blood levels of the vitamin drop significantly for both children and adults between the months of October and March.

The only vitamin produced by the body, vitamin D is largely formed by exposure to sunlight and as a result those living in Northern Ireland do not get enough. People are now reliant on topping up the body’s stores with food sources of the vitamin, and Dale Farm has answered consumer demand by launching its new Vitamin D milk which aims to tackle the health problems caused by a lack of ‘sunshine’. Deficiency can lead to a number of health issues for both children and adults alike.

The new Vitamin D milk, now in stores just in time for autumn, delivers all the other nutritional benefits of milk, with a glass providing 30%of the recommended daily calcium intake.

Speaking at the launch Caroline Martin, Head of Marketing, Dale Farm said:

“We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to stay healthy and get their daily dose of vitamin D. There has been a surge of interest recently in vitamin D, and we would encourage people to increase their intake and realise the health benefits associated with this new product.

“Dairy is an important part of a balanced diet and Dale Farm Vitamin D Milk has been formulated to provide 100% of the daily recommended in-take of vitamin D required for both adults and children in just one 200ml serving. The development of the latest addition to Dale Farm’s milk range is in line with the company’s strategy to support its 1,300 farmer owners by developing innovative products to add value to our milk.”

Dr Mike Johnston, Chief Executive, Dairy Council Northern Ireland welcomed Dale Farm’s latest innovation:

“Low vitamin D can cause a number of problems for the population in Northern Ireland which is why a lot of attention is being placed on dietary intake as important contribution to levels within the body. The Dairy Council welcomes Dale Farm’s commitment to developing dairy products with added health benefits, in particular its new vitamin D fortified milk. Our bodies struggle to make vitamin D in winter and with limited sunlight here, even during the summer, it’s difficult to get our daily requirement though sunlight alone.”

Dale Farm Vitamin D Milk comes in a 1 Litre format and is available now in supermarkets and convenience stores across Northern Ireland.