Congress Passes Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, Restoring Full-Fat Options to School Lunches
After more than a decade of restrictions, American schools will soon be able to serve whole milk and 2% milk to students again. Congress has passed the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which awaits President Trump's signature to become law.
Since 2012, schools have been limited to serving only fat-free or low-fat milk under nutrition standards from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The original rule aimed to reduce saturated fat in school meals, but dairy producers and school nutrition leaders argued it led to unintended consequences.
The problem with fat-free only:
The restrictions resulted in several concerning trends:
- Decreased milk consumption among students
- Increased food waste from discarded milk cartons
- Lost nutritional opportunities for delivering essential nutrients to children
The bipartisan legislation was introduced in January by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont). It revises National School Lunch Program guidelines to allow schools to offer a complete range of milk options.
What schools can now offer:
Under the new law, schools will be able to provide:
- Flavored and unflavored whole milk
- Reduced fat 2% milk
- Low-fat milk options
- Fat-free milk varieties
- Non-dairy substitutes with written parental or physician statements
Supporters argue that offering whole and 2% milk makes school lunches more appealing to students, ultimately boosting milk consumption and delivering vital nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, protein, and potassium more effectively.
While school nutrition experts remain divided on the policy change, many appreciate the increased flexibility it provides nutrition directors. Agriculture groups, including the National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association, have enthusiastically supported the legislation.
NMPF President and CEO Greg Dowd called the congressional passage "a major advancement in improving the nourishment of American school kids."