The Blog

Developing innovative new products is key to driving growth of cheese sales in the pizza category. That’s why dairy producers, through their checkoff investment, partnered with Domino’s Pizza® – the nation’s No. 2 pizza chain – to introduce the new Cheesy Garlic Bread Pizza. The Cheesy Garlic Bread Pizza was available for a limited time at more than 6,000 Domino’s restaurants nationwide over the past few weeks.

“The dairy checkoff works with food industry partners like Domino’s to extend our checkoff promotions and bring additional resources and expertise to marketing efforts that increase sales of U.S.-produced cheese and other dairy products,” said Barb Luehmann, Midwest Dairy Association director of foodservice marketing, who worked with the chain on the launch.

Checkoff-funded partnerships with pizza chains extend beyond Domino’s. Pizza Hut®, American’s No. 1 pizza chain, reintroduced its “Cheesy Bites Pizza” for a 2007 promotion that kicked off on Super Bowl Sunday.

National Dairy Council® Becomes American Dietetic Association Partner

With only 19 percent of Americans meeting the recommended dietary guidelines of three servings of dairy per day, National Dairy Council® (NDC), the nutrition research and education arm of the national dairy checkoff, has become an official partner of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), which represents more than 65,000 food and nutrition professionals, including registered dietitians, foodservice managers, educators, researchers, dietetic technicians, and students.

As an ADA corporate relations partner, the producer-funded NDC will participate in key ADA events and programs and share information about the importance of including three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day as part of a healthy diet to key influencers, thought leaders and decision-makers in the food and nutrition marketplace.

Nutrition Report Shows African-Americans Lack Dairy in Their Diets

A report published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shows that African-American children and adults have lower-than-average intakes of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, and consume fewer than the government-recommended three daily servings of low-fat or fat-free milk or dairy products.

To help spread the word, national and local dairy council staffs reach out to leading health professional partners – including the National Medical Association (NMA), which represents the nation’s African-American physicians – to help build public awareness of the need for children and adults to consume three daily servings of milk, cheese or yogurt as part of a healthy diet.

Many minority populations avoid dairy due to perceived lactose intolerance. A statement from the NMA suggests that lactose intolerance may not be as prevalent in the African-American community as previously thought. In a 2004 consensus statement, NMA reported that only 24 percent of African-Americans say they are lactose intolerant.