Milk and milk products have an important role in the diet and their consumption is recommended as part of food-based dietary guidelines around the world. Their health effects are related to the unique package of important nutrients that interact in acomplex matrix. Scientific evidence has linked dairy consumption to various health benefits and reduced risk of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Reducing the consumption of foods and beverages that increase the risk of developing weight gain has been of particular importance to health authorities in an effort to curb the increase in NCDs. As a result, many countries have implemented public healthmeasures aimed at reducing populations' sugar intake. Public health experts agree that consuming excess added and free sugars from energy-dense, nutrient poor foods may contribute to weight gain and the development of NCDs.Lactose is a disaccharide that occurs naturally in all mammalian milk. This Bulletin summarizes the scientific evidence on the nutritional and health properties of lactose as naturally found in milk and other dairy foods. It outlines the key role that milk and dairy products have in a healthy diet and argues that lactose, as an inherent sugar, forms an important part of the dairy matrix. Milk and milk products should therefore not be penalised in policy measures designed to reduce the intake of added sugar.
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