The United States House of Representatives unanimously supported legislation to repeal a school nutrition program regulation and reinstate whole milk in schools. The Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn GT Thompson’s Whole Milk for Healthy Kids bill failed to pass on Tuesday but succeeded decisively on Wednesday by a 330-99 vote.
According to Paul Bleiberg of the National Milk Producers Federation, members of Congress paid heed to current scientific findings. “Dairy is under consumed, especially among school aged children and really should be consumed at higher rates, and given that problem, and that understanding that there was a recognition on both sides of the isle, that this bill was the right thing to do to fix that.”
During floor discussion, Dr. John Joyce of Pennsylvania said that a published fifteen-year research demonstrates that whole milk is beneficial to individuals of all ages. “People who eat more than two dairy products per day have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.” There is a decreased morbidity linked with people who consume whole milk and whole milk products.”
According to Dr. Joyce, prohibiting nutritious milk products from schools has caused pupils to abandon milk and dairy products in favor of highly caffeinated and sugary beverages with little nutritional value.
The House measure was amended to allow organic milk, to restrict Chinese-made dairy products from being sold in schools, and to bar the USDA from creating regulations that would prohibit flavored milks from being sold in school meal programs.
The measure now proceeds to the United States Senate, where Bleiberg said a counterpart bill sponsored by Republican Roger Marshall of Kansas and Democrat Peter Welch of Vermont must first pass via the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Farming groups are responding positively to the House decision.
The American Farm Bureau Federation said in a statement, “”AFBF applauds the House for approving the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 to guarantee schools may provide extra nutritional milk alternatives to children.” According to an AFBF letter to Congress, milk is a crucial building block for America’s children, yet nearly 9 out of 10 youngsters do not consume enough dairy to satisfy their nutritional requirements. Unfortunately, whole and 2% milk are not permitted in school lunch programs, restricting children’s access to protein, calcium, and vitamins during critical stages of development. We urge the Senate to promptly follow the House’s example in advocating for healthy school lunch alternatives for America’s youth.”
According to Walt Moore of the American Dairy Coalition, “”we are thrilled to see the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act pass in the House of Representatives.” As farmers, we provide a healthy product from which our children should be allowed to pick. We appreciate Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson for his dedication to the objective of allowing children to select whole milk at school and allowing schools to provide this healthful option without fear of losing federal food and education money. Fuller fat milk and dairy are a fantastic source of important nutrients and other health advantages, according to scientific studies. While natural milkfat assists in vitamin absorption, it also adds taste to the table, allowing kids to appreciate and benefit from everything that milk has to offer.”
“IDFA applauds the strong bipartisan passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the United States House of Representatives,” said International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes. This law will reintroduce to schools a broad range of milk alternatives that children would drink and that match their specific requirements, such as whole and 2% milks, low-fat milks, and lactose-free milks. Whole milk and low-fat milk both supply 13 necessary elements to children for growth, development, immunological function, and general health. Offering these alternatives enhances school lunch attendance, minimizes food waste, and delivers nutritionally beneficial school meals for children and adolescents, according to the vast majority of parents and medical and nutrition specialists. IDFA thanks Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Rep. Kim Schrier, and the many other politicians who have long championed the campaign to reintroduce a complete range of healthy milk alternatives in school meals. We urgently encourage the Senate to approve this bill.”
According to FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative General Manager Jeff Lyon, ”
“FarmFirst applauds the passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 1147) today, a bipartisan bill that expands healthy milk options for children in schools.” FarmFirst has long advocated for more dairy alternatives in schools. This measure would overturn existing laws that limit milk alternatives to low-fat and fat-free. The return of whole milk in school cafeterias will not only benefit children’s health by providing a diverse range of milk alternatives in schools, but it will also stimulate demand for milk, therefore helping dairy producers. FarmFirst will continue to campaign for legislation that promotes healthy eating and the health of the dairy sector.”
“Milk is an essential part of a balanced diet, especially for our growing children,” Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President Brody Stapel says. “The nutritional benefits of milk for school-age children have been demonstrated time and again, and providing more options encourages consumption of nutrient-dense milk.” Thank you to Representatives GT Thompson and Kim Schrier for their persistent support and leadership in ensuring that higher-fat dairy products are recognized as healthy alternatives, particularly for school nutrition programs. We encourage the Senate to consider their companion measure as soon as possible.”
“I’m delighted to see this change, which is backed by the most rigorous science showing that regular dairy is the healthiest for growing children,” says Nina Teicholz, Founder of The Nutrition Coalition. This rule is a rare example of excellent science triumphing against special interests in nutrition.”
The author of the measure, Glenn GT Thompson, states, “I am pleased to see my bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act pass out of the United States House of Representatives, and I ultimately look forward to restoring access to these nutritious beverages in schools across the country.”
