Commuters baffled by free milk ATM as bottle dispenser suddenly appears in high street

COMMUTERS have been left baffled by a brand-new ATM dispensing free milk.

The ATM, in North London, is the first of its kind - and aims to give people access to daily dairy, which many UK food charities are currently unable to provide.

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It marks the start of a nationwide roll out of fresh dairy provision in food charities across the country, after it was revealed an estimated 450,000 people who rely on these schemes do not have access.

Despite fresh dairy being one of the most requested items at food charities according to FareShare, around one in five (19 per cent) of the charities it supports can’t offer it, with many forced to decline donations due to a lack of storage facilities.

The innovative milk dispensing machine aims to raise awareness of this issue while allowing consumers to receive free, fresh milk at the push of a button.

Launched by Arla, it marks the next steps of the UK’s leading dairy cooperative’s commitment to enhance people’s access to daily dairy.

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The nationwide rollout of fresh dairy provision will also see the brand partner with Fareshare, the UK’s largest charity redistributing surplus food, to donate fully-stocked-and-sponsored fridges to charities across the country.

Jonathan Dixon, senior vice president at Arla said: “We are on a mission to enhance the accessibility of nutritious dairy products for communities across the UK.

“Too many charities have to turn away fresh dairy donations because they have nowhere to store it, but by working with FareShare, we hope to overcome that.”

Ben Ashmore, head of external affairs at FareShare, said: “Our charities report that the demand for nutritious dairy products is increasing, but many lack the infrastructure to store refrigerated items safely.

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“Thanks to Arla’s generous commitment to donating fridges to charities across the UK, many of these organisations can now offer a more varied range of nutritious food.”

It comes after a study of 2,000 adults commissioned by the dairy brand found half of adults couldn’t imagine not having access to milk on a daily basis, with 76 per cent consuming it at least a few times a week.

So much so, 35 per cent admitted they’d struggle if they didn’t have access to milk, with 53 per cent of the opinion everyone should be able to easily get dairy based foods.

The research, conducted via OnePoll.com, also found 62 per cent were not aware not all foodbanks have fridges and therefore can’t store fresh dairy products.

Although 89 per cent of UK adults believe the food group is important to their diet, a quarter don’t prioritise it.

With 65 per cent believing there is a general lack of understanding around the health advantages of dairy, 52 per cent say they would be more likely to increase their intake if they were more aware of its benefits.

While some are aware of the nutritional benefits - including it being a source of calcium (75 per cent) and helping maintain strong bones (60 per cent) - only 20 per cent know it helps reduce fatigue and 35 per cent believe dairy isn’t spoken about enough in terms of dietary needs.

Nichola Ludlam-Raine, specialist dietitian, said: “As a registered dietitian, I strongly support initiatives like this that provide increased access to dairy products.

“A 200ml glass of milk provides protein, as well as the minerals calcium and iodine too, so regular consumption can help ensure we meet our daily needs for these particular nutrients.”