NewsWhore
06-09-2008, 05:53 PM
TV journalist Nuria Piera dedicated most of her investigative journalism TV program screened on Saturday, 7 June to denouncing the low quality of the breakfast drink purchased by the Ministry of Education for distribution to public school children nationwide. Piera revealed that the level of protein and fat in the product produced by Ladom, the majority supplier of the school breakfast program is well below minimum standards, and well below the standards required by the Ministry itself and listed on the packaging of the drink. Lab tests carried out by the show indicated that the drink is most likely made from imported whey, not milk, with little or no nutritional value, despite an agreement between the Ministry and local milk producers to source at least 50% of their product locally.
On the program, one expert explained that whey costs 20% of what imported powdered milk costs. Sugar and flavoring are added to the drink. Piera also revealed that the minister's daughter is employed by the company at management level.
Ladom recently inaugurated a new facility said to have cost RD$20 million. On the program Piera reported that the inaugural was attended by President Leonel Fernandez, Mariano German who is director of the Santo Domingo Water Corporation and Minister Alejandrina German's brother, and Emigdio Sosa, director of the government's social program, who is the Minister of Education's brother-in-law.
Ladom produces 40% of the country's school breakfasts, which are distributed to 1.6 million public school children. Lab tests determined that the drink was 90% water, and less than 1% protein and fat. Ladom is the country's leading whey importer, with imports going from 340.2 tons in 2007 to 1,420.78 tons so far this year.
Freddy Garcia of Ladom denied using whey in their products because "it would damage the product". He said that when whey is used, "all the product's nutritional properties are reduced, the calories, the proteins". But when presented with the evidence of Ladom whey imports he said the product was used in their powdered milk formula, which are targeted at lower income consumers.
Lab tests on another brand showed 3.13% protein and 3.12% in fat content. The Ministry of Education's response to the journalist's inquiry was that it her claims were the result of pressure from competing firms.
For a discussion on the subject, see:
www.dr1.com/forums/government/... (http://www.dr1.com/forums/government/70216-i-have-about-had-alejandrina-german-9.html) and www.nuria.com.do/casos.php (http://www.nuria.com.do/casos.php) for a video of Nuria Piera's report.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
On the program, one expert explained that whey costs 20% of what imported powdered milk costs. Sugar and flavoring are added to the drink. Piera also revealed that the minister's daughter is employed by the company at management level.
Ladom recently inaugurated a new facility said to have cost RD$20 million. On the program Piera reported that the inaugural was attended by President Leonel Fernandez, Mariano German who is director of the Santo Domingo Water Corporation and Minister Alejandrina German's brother, and Emigdio Sosa, director of the government's social program, who is the Minister of Education's brother-in-law.
Ladom produces 40% of the country's school breakfasts, which are distributed to 1.6 million public school children. Lab tests determined that the drink was 90% water, and less than 1% protein and fat. Ladom is the country's leading whey importer, with imports going from 340.2 tons in 2007 to 1,420.78 tons so far this year.
Freddy Garcia of Ladom denied using whey in their products because "it would damage the product". He said that when whey is used, "all the product's nutritional properties are reduced, the calories, the proteins". But when presented with the evidence of Ladom whey imports he said the product was used in their powdered milk formula, which are targeted at lower income consumers.
Lab tests on another brand showed 3.13% protein and 3.12% in fat content. The Ministry of Education's response to the journalist's inquiry was that it her claims were the result of pressure from competing firms.
For a discussion on the subject, see:
www.dr1.com/forums/government/... (http://www.dr1.com/forums/government/70216-i-have-about-had-alejandrina-german-9.html) and www.nuria.com.do/casos.php (http://www.nuria.com.do/casos.php) for a video of Nuria Piera's report.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)