Objective: To consider the feasibility of using school milk as a vehicle to deliver fluoride to children, suffering from high rates of dental disease, in socially deprived districts.
Method: The legal aspects of adding fluoride to milk and availability of milk subsidies were updated. The organisational requirements of using school milk as a vehicle for fluoride were investigated and the consultation process established. The uptake of fluoridated milk was monitored and the fluoridated milk was subjected to rigorous quality control. The costs involved in running a scheme were calculated.
Outcome: Fluoridated milk can now be called milk with added fluoride and to date the product has attracted subsidies from the European Economic Community and from the Welfare Foods Section in the Department of Health. The demonstration scheme in St. Helens, Merseyside, generated interest from neighbouring health authorities leading to the subsequent expansion of the programme. By working with the dairy, recommendations to improve the quality of school milk have been developed. The main organisations involved in running school based milk fluoridation schemes have been encouraged by the low costs involved.
Conclusion: The UK programme has demonstrated that it is feasible to use school milk as a vehicle to deliver fluoride on a community basis. Attention must be given to improving the quality and particularly the temperature control of school milk.