Some adults remain unsure where chocolate milk comes from, and that has people concerned.
A survey from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy found that 7% of American adults believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
That share translates to about 17.3 million people.
Millions have somehow reached adulthood without realizing chocolate flavoring doesn’t flow from cows.
If milk color depended on a cow’s hide, why wouldn’t plain milk show black spots?
The online survey polled 1,000 American adults over a five-day period in May.
It launched the center’s “Undeniably Dairy” campaign, which promotes healthy dairy products and farms.
“It is a bit surprising,” a spokeswoman for the campaign told. “We don’t have a suggestion as to why people would draw that conclusion.”
The survey also turned up less alarming findings.
A quarter of Americans said they have gone to the store before 6 a.m. just to buy milk.
And 95% of Americans currently keep at least one kind of cheese in their fridge.
If you are part of that 7% and reading this in disbelief, you are not alone.
“To be fair, some milk questions and myths may make us smile,” the center wrote on its website to clarify the age-old cow conundrum. “But we realize we need accurate information to make the best choices for ourselves and our families about what we eat.”
To the 7% still reeling: have some chocolate milk.
It can be a comforting drink, and you can even make it yourself.