Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Advances to House for Approval
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act has progressed to the House of Representatives following its approval in the Senate. This legislative move is part of a broader effort to reinstate whole milk options in school cafeterias, which had been restricted to fat-free or one-percent varieties since 2012. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has initiated an intensive advocacy campaign aimed at securing the bill's passage in the House when Congress reconvenes after the Thanksgiving recess.
The campaign by NMPF is seeking to mobilize a wide coalition of dairy supporters, school nutrition advocates, and parents to communicate with representatives in favor of the bill. The legislation seeks to provide flexibility in the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 30 million students daily, by allowing schools to offer whole, two-percent, one-percent, or skim milk without counting milkfat toward saturated fat limits. This change is viewed as crucial for compliance under current school meal guidelines.
According to Alan Bjerga, a spokesperson for NMPF, the advocacy effort highlights both the nutritional benefits of whole milk and the bipartisan support the legislation has garnered. Bjerga noted that school milk consumption declined by 15 percent per student between 2008 and 2018, following the USDA's 2012 restrictions. The campaign's focus is on educating lawmakers about the potential benefits of restoring whole milk options in schools.
The bill has already passed through the House Education and Workforce Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee via voice votes, providing political support that could expedite its consideration in the House. The advocacy campaign coincides with the peak demand season for dairy products, which typically increases during the holiday period due to baking and festive meals.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is part of a broader policy agenda aimed at strengthening dairy demand by expanding market access and removing regulatory barriers. Industry observers view the passage of the bill as a positive step not only for its immediate policy implications but also as a sign of possible future revisions to federal nutrition guidelines.
