No kidding!

7:29am Tuesday 29th July 2008

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A Bradford youngster is feeling the benefit of swapping cows’ milk for goats’ milk – and she’s not kidding around.

Three-year-old Sadie Sutcliffe suffered bouts of sickness, digestion problems and ear infections until mum Aimee Szpara decided to make changes to her diet.

She was amazed when her daughter’s sickness and ear infections ceased almost immediately after swapping her milk.

Miss Szpara said: “Sadie was constantly feeling sick and spent a lot of time at the doctors with her complaints and her terrible ear infections. I was amazed that once I swapped her to goats’ milk, immediately I noticed the difference.”

Now, the Greengates youngster is helping to front a national campaign to encourage people to give the alternative white stuff a try.

A survey of 10,000 goats’ milk drinkers, carried out by the country’s largest supplier of goats’ milk, revealed health benefits including improved eczema and digestion, particularly in young children.

The brand “Thank Goodness for Goats” is celebrating its sixth year of production and milk lovers are being urged to give goats’ milk a seven-day trial.

A spokesman for dieticians at Bradford Royal Infirmary said: “We often see children coming in with allergies to cows’ milk.

“In these cases, using alternative milks can be very useful. We would advise anyone changing children’s diets to visit their GP, who can help refer to a dietician, if necessary, to make sure that the diet is nutritionally balanced.”

One Thornton pensioner has been advocating the health benefits of goats’ milk for decades.

John Allen, 87, was recently honoured for 40 years’ service as a goat steward and committee member at the Great Yorkshire Show.

He used to keep the animals and would supply residents with their milk.

He said: “I supplied quite a few people at one time. I used to drink it all the time. It has a bit of a stronger taste, but it is tasty.

“One or two people bought it for health benefits, including helping eczema.”

Mr Allen no longer keeps the animals due to ill health but is a member of the Yorkshire Goat Society and Pennine Goat Club. and continues to head the goats’ section at historic Bingley Show.

What YOU said

The goats’ milk does not taste much different from ordinary milk really. There is a slightly different taste but not much. I would consider buying it now.

Nadia Geldard, 59, a Bradford Council worker

It’s good, very tasty. It’s very sensitive and light. I like it. I may buy it in the future. Everybody should take it.

Asif Ali, 36, of Heaton, Bradford

It tastes a bit the same (as cows’ milk). It smells a bit different and has a different after taste. I prefer normal milk.

Lucy Hird, 23, a graduate, of Baildon

It’s lovely. It’s got a nice earthy flavour to it and it’s nice and creamy. My granddaughter drinks goats’ milk because she is allergic to cows’ milk.

Richard Page, 57, of the Probation Service

I don’t think the goats’ milk tastes much different. It has a little bit of an after taste. The after taste is a bit like off milk. I prefer normal milk.

Rachel Gibson, 16, a student, of Gt Horton

I could not taste a big difference between cows’ and goats’ milk. It must be subtle. But I would buy goats’ milk now I have tasted it.

Nick Hayles, 54, who was visiting Bradford