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Show The government in Wash-ington Wash-ington is deciding whether we can keep on importing casein. The protein in casein keeps low-cost foods nutritious and convenient Most people would probably prob-ably agree that low-cost, . highly nutritious foods, healthy and intelligent infants in-fants and adults, and a product that makes it easier to cut cholesterol are all in the public interest. Some dairy producers, however, act as if they believe be-lieve otherwise. Casein (kay'seen), a protein pro-tein derived from milk, can . help accomplish all those things. It's used in about 400 different foods, and it . greatly increases their nutri- tional value without greatly increasing their cost at all. . Many physicians and dietitians dieti-tians recommend foods -containing casein for cholesv ; terol-free diets, and some companies can use nothing : but casein to create milk-.. milk-.. , free food, formulas and dietary supplements for infants in-fants and adults who would become ill or even die if given milk. 1 For several decades, the . American dairy producers have found it uneconomical to make casein here. It all must be imported. Its i v present price is about one dollar a pound. American-made American-made casein would have to cost, experts estimate, $3.50 or $4 a pound. Nevertheless, some dairy producers have proposed that the casein we get from New Zealand, Australia and other countries should be banned from our shores. ' They claim casein importation impor-tation is a threat to the dairy industry. Actually, for the five years 1973 through 1977, the US. dairy industry indus-try produced an average of 118 billion pounds of milk per year, the Eiept. of Agriculture reports. During the same period, the U.S. imported an average of 108 million pounds of casein -per year. Imported casein amounted to less than 921000 of one percent of the total milk ' produced ' in the United States of America. Many people feel it's in the public interest that " casein imports remain available avail-able and free from any interference, interruption or restrictions. Whether the issue is decided in favor of consumers con-sumers is a question that our Secretary of Agriculture in Washington will , decide. His decision could affect the . x public interest and the public's pockets. 1 |
