Whole and 2% milk is headed back to public school lunchrooms after a 12-year hiatus, following passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the House of Representatives on Monday.
Approved by the Senate on Nov. 20, the bill was lauded by the dairy industry, but nutrition advocates criticized the legislation, calling it a handout.
The legislation reverses a USDA rule from 2012 made possible by the Obama-era Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which limited milk served in schools to nonfat or 1% milk in an effort to curb obesity.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted restoring whole milk to school cafeterias, calling dietary guidelines antiquated and encouraging grantees of the Head Start low-income nutrition program to switch from low-fat dairy to whole milk.
Bipartisan support
Dairy Farmers of America, a farmer-owned cooperative, called the bill common-sense legislation that recognizes the importance of giving kids access to nutrient-rich options that support health.
“This legislation is a win for children’s health and for America’s dairy farm families who work tirelessly to produce wholesome, high-quality and delicious milk. We’re proud to see whole milk back on school menus, where it belongs,” said DFA President and CEO Dennis Rodenbaugh in a press release.
DFA said whole and reduced fat milk offers 13 essential nutrients and vitamins and provides a source of high-quality protein for children’s brain and bone development. Milk’s benefits also include stronger immunity, lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, according to DFA.
Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Penn., Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and primary sponsor of the bill, said he has worked for the last decade to restore whole milk to schools across the country.
“Whole milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, and students should have the option to choose the milk they love,” Thompson said. “I am proud that my bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, passed the House today and now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.”
In November, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., praised the Senate passage of the bill, noting support from both sides of the aisle.
“We are advancing bipartisan legislation that will improve children’s access to milk and other healthy beverages through school lunches,” Klobuchar said. “This legislation is good for our kids and it’s good for our dairy producers – a win-win.”
Kids health on the line
The 17,000-member Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it prioritizes the dairy industry over children’s health.
“This bill might improve the dairy industry’s sales, but it’s doing so at the expense of children’s health,” said Physicians Committee President Neal Barnard in April. “Congress should be putting less saturated fat on school lunch trays, not more, and it can do that by making it easier for students to access nondairy beverages and plant-based entrees.”
The Center for Science in the Public Interest released a statement on Monday, noting that saturated fat increases heart disease and that nearly 90% of US children consume too much saturated fat.
“This bill thus leaves even more room for excess saturated fat, making this bill the exact opposite of what is needed to improve health outcomes and a clear handout to the dairy industry at the expense of our kids’ health,” CSPI said.
The House version of the bill included a welcome change praised by critics for improving access to nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages in school cafeterias.
The Physicians Committee said in April that nondairy milks require a physician’s note documenting a diet restriction for the child.
“The cost of a physician visit (and the lost time from work for a parent) is an unnecessary burden that prevents students from receiving appropriate nutrition at school,” the group said. “Notably, due to high incidences of lactose intolerance, parents and students of color suffer disproportionately from this burden.”
