Mike Pearson takes a look at progress on Capital Hill that is aimed to give school kids more choices when it comes to the milk they drink.
American students might soon have more choices after the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act cleared Congress. The Senate Ag Committee passed the legislation with zero against it.
The legislation will allow schools to serve whole or 2 percent milk again in schools. It reverses a ban that has been in place since 2012. The ban was put in place after legislation passed in 2010 authorized the USDA to limit school milk offerings to fat free or 1 percent milk which was in line with federal dietary guidelines.
Sinc ethen consumption has dropped and overall meal involvement has also decreased. Now, 68-94 percent of school aged kids failed to meet recommended dairy intake levels.
The senate committee vote comes on the heels of polling which shows most homes serve whole or 2 percent milk and favor it being served at schools.
New studies show there are healthy benefits to serving whole milk or 2 percent including risk of obesity and heart disease.
A similar bill passed the house in the education committee with bipartisan support.
A bill is likely to come for a vote on the whole floor later this year.
Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.