by Kristin Bakker, Digital Content Specialist, Farm Progress Livestock Group
Washington, DC — The House passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (S. 222) by a voice vote on Dec. 15, which will allow schools participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program to offer an expanded range of milk options with school meals.
The Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent last month. The bill had rare broad bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress and is widely backed by the dairy industry as well as health and nutrition professionals as milk provides 13 essential nutrients, such as calcium, protein and vitamin D. The bill now just needs the President’s signature before the new law can be implemented.
Schools are currently required to provide fat-free or low-fat milk for students’ meals. Once the new legislation is in effect, schools can offer flavored and unflavored organic or nonorganic whole, reduced-fat, low-fat and fat-free milk, lactose-free milk and nondairy beverages that meet USDA nutritional standards.
National Milk Producers Federation president and chief executive officer Gregg Doud said passage of the legislation shows how “persistent, long-term effort can still bring bipartisan success in Congress. Since 2012, when federal nutrition rules took whole and 2% milk out of school meals programs, dairy farmers and their cooperatives have pointed out the flaws in that decision, which wasn’t aligned with consumer choice. What was true then became even more true in years to come, as newer research consistently showed the value of milk at all fat levels and consumers moved even further toward fuller-fat varieties in their purchases. And now the day has arrived.”
The International Dairy Foods Association, which represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, said the bill is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump, capping off a historic, years-long effort by IDFA, dairy food companies, dairy farmers, partners, school nutrition leaders, physicians and nutritionists and parents across the country to restore access to the nutritious milk options children overwhelmingly prefer.
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