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Brilio.net - The new government under Prabowo Subianto is reportedly starting to seriously consider the potential use of fish milk as an alternative to cow's milk in the nutritious food and free milk program. The program is planned to start on October 20, 2024.
The use of fish milk can be an alternative solution to overcome the shortage of cow's milk products that will target 82.9 million people including school children to pregnant women. Prabowo Subianto's main goal in creating a free meal program is to reduce the high stunting rate in Indonesia.
Stunting is a growth disorder caused by insufficient nutritional intake for a long time. The problem of stunting can indeed be overcome, one of which is by increasing fish consumption. So what are the facts you need to know about this fish milk?
The following is a complete review as compiled by brilio.net from various sources, Tuesday (10/9).
1. Basic ingredients of fish milk.
Fish milk as a substitute for cow's milk
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As the name suggests, this milk is made from fish. Fish was chosen because Indonesia has very abundant fish resources. Therefore, fish is considered a solution to meet the need for milk in the free lunch program for school children and pregnant women. With modern technology, fresh fish will later be converted into amino acid powder through the fish protein hydrolyzation process. Well, for your information, fish milk products have apparently been produced since 2023. Indramayu, West Java Province is the first district in Indonesia to produce fish milk.
2. Nutritional content in fish milk.Fish milk is rich in protein, omega-3, vitamin D, and other essential minerals. These nutrients are beneficial for heart, brain, and bone health, making it a good source of nutrition, especially for growing children.
3. Incomplete mineral content.Fish milk may be lower in some essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium compared to cow's milk. This may reduce its nutritional benefits in certain aspects.
4. Weaknesses in terms of taste.Although processing technology can reduce the fishy taste and aroma, some people can still taste the fishy flavor in the milk. This fishy taste can make it less appealing to some people, especially if they are not used to the taste of fish or prefer the more neutral taste of cow's milk.
5. Alternative for people who are lactose intolerant.
Fish milk as a substitute for cow's milk
freepik.com
For those who are lactose intolerant, fish milk can be a safe and healthy alternative. Fish milk does not contain any lactose at all, so it can be consumed without causing digestive problems. However, fish milk is still rarely used in daily consumption patterns, and has not been widely proven to replace cow's milk as a primary source of nutrition.
6. Can be consumed by all groups.Another advantage of this fish milk product is that it can be consumed by all ages so that it can be used to improve family nutrition. To note, this fish milk product is a downstream program launched by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) since 2023.
7. Lack of long-term research.Because it is relatively new, there is limited long-term research on the health effects of regular fish milk consumption, making it less well understood than the long-standing cow's milk.
(brl/ola)
