05/05/05 Dairy industry innovation

United Dairymen of Idaho will be spending two and a half million dollars in the new year on innovation. UDI sees innovation as a key component in meeting consumer needs while building a demand for dairy products. One area where innovation is seen as essential is in dairy protein. Idaho Dairy Council nutrition consultant Doctor Kristen Ritzenthaler says whey has many of the same benefits as milk. RITZENTHALER "High quality protein in whey protein that seems to be keeping your muscles while trying to loose weight or just building muscles through bodybuilding or weightlifting." UDI plans to develop a value-added position for dairy proteins including the increased use of whey and other dairy proteins for the growing food and beverage markets. Doctor Ritzenthaler thinks we've only scratched the surface in this country for whey uses. RITZENTHALER "If you go to Europe they have so many different beverages that have quite a bit of whey in them and they mix them with different things for flavoring. Whey has a lot to offer." Ritzenthaler says the more she looks into the science of dairy products, one thing becomes obvious. RITZENTHALER "The more I'm convinced dairy really, really needs to be part of our every day diet." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott