Milk is a drink that’s poured on breakfast cereal in the morning and is used as a base for an almost endless variety of different recipes. It’s also a drink that is one of the best sources of calcium and vitamin D in a person’s diet. So, it shouldn’t be any wonder that it has earned its own day—a holiday that’s observed on January 11th every year. And if you’re a true fan of milk, then you can not only celebrate this holiday but can also celebrate its sister holiday: World Milk Day—a day that falls on June 1st.

National Milk Day History

National Milk Day is a holiday that was first requested by the International Association of Milk Inspectors in 1915, but that request largely fell on deaf ears among members of the United States 64th Congress, as well as then U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. It would be almost another 100 years before the holiday was officially launched—although it should be mentioned that it still hasn’t been officially proclaimed as a holiday in the U.S.

Interesting Facts About Milk

Now that we know a little bit more about National Milk Day, let’s take a few moments and learn some interesting facts about this food/drink. Below are a sample of some of the things that we learned about milk that we think everyone should know.

• The U.S. and Australia are the largest milk exporters in the world.
• More than 6 billion people around the world consume milk regularly.
• Cow’s milk is the main type of milk enjoyed by people—although all female mammals can produce milk.
• Milk is used to produce whey protein, casein, condensed milk, powdered milk, lactose, and a variety of other milk-based products.
• French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization—a process that kills bacteria and makes milk safer to drink.
• Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization in 1863.

The Nutritional Value Of Milk

As we discussed earlier, milk is a very healthy drink and contains many of the nutrients people need in their diet. We’ve listed some of the nutrients that can be found in a standard 8.4-ounce glass of cow’s milk to show everyone just how much nutrition is packed into each glass.

Nutrients In An 8.4-Ounce Glass Of Cow’s Milk:

• 48% of a 5-year-old child’s protein requirements
• 9% of a 5-year-old child’s calorie requirements
• 8 grams of fat
• 28% RDA of calcium
• 24% RDA of vitamin D
• 26% RDA of riboflavin (B2)
• 18% RDA of B12
• 10% RDA of potassium
• 22% RDA of phosphorus
• 12% RDA of selenium

Observing National Milk Day

For people who enjoy milk and all of the products made from milk, they can celebrate National Milk Day in any number of different ways. A person can enjoy a nice glass of milk, enjoy some ice cream, or even eat some cereal with milk on it. They can also use the hashtag #NationalMilkDay and let everyone know that they’re celebrating this day.