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Base foodLow concern
Milk
In plain words
The short version
A concentrated source of calcium, which competes with iron and zinc for absorption in the same meal.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
Calcium is the one mineral shown to interfere with iron absorption whatever the form of the iron, and it competes with zinc as well. Milk protein also binds some polyphenols, which is why tea with milk tastes less astringent.
The detail
Educational information only. Not medical or dietary advice.