People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are aiming their anti-milk message at a younger audience by telling middle-school kids that milk is the enemy, contributing to many health problems.

PETA recently launched the "Dump Dairy" campaign by staking out a middle school in Burlington, Vt., in hopes of getting kids to leave cow's milk to the cows.

"Drinking milk is a health hazard to children," said Sean Gifford, a PETA spokesman. In addition to the adverse health effects, "If you're drinking milk, you're supporting the veal industry and the abuse of dairy cows," he said.

Of course the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which represents most of this country's milk companies, is not in agreement with PETA's position.

PETA members handed out fliers and "Milk Suckers" trading cards that feature dairy-damaged characters like Loogie Louie and Chubby Charlie.

PETA claims that cow's milk and dairy products are harmful to human health, particularly for children, and can:

• Cause allergies

• Give you gas

• Create a build-up of mucous

• Even cause cancer
  

Gifford says dairy cows are mistreated on factory farms and that their male offspring are used for veal.

Middle-school kids, he says, are ideal targets. "Going to children is a perfect way to get the message out," he said. "They have a natural empathy for animals and a good sense of humor. The 'Milk Suckers' cards make them laugh, but children won't be laughing when they get sick from drinking cows' milk."

For more information on milks adverse health effects try the links below and also visit PETA's anti-milk site