Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives!
Source: The DairyNews
Dear Dairy Community, after more than a decade of advocacy, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R.1147) passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 330-99. This strong, bipartisan tally in the House sets a strong precedent as the momentum moves to the U.S. Senate, where a companion bill (S.1957) is being led by U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) with the support of 9 additional bipartisan cosponsors.
MICHAEL DYKES
D.V.M., PRESIDENT AND CEO, INTERNATIONAL DAIRY FOODS ASSOCIATION
D.V.M., PRESIDENT AND CEO, INTERNATIONAL DAIRY FOODS ASSOCIATION
As you know, the bill would reintroduce whole (3.25% milkfat) and reduced-fat (2% milkfat) milk to school cafeterias, restoring the two most popular milk varieties to schools. Today’s vote and the momentum behind the bill are due in large part to the direct advocacy of IDFA members at legislative fly-ins, meetings and phone calls with legislators, and virtually through the IDFA Campaign Center. In fact, IDFA members and dairy advocates sent approximately 1,000 emails to their legislators in the past week alone. Thank you to each of you who advocated.
What’s Next?
The focus now turns to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, which has jurisdiction over child nutrition issues. The Senate must consider and pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the end of the 118th Congress, or by January 3, 2025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider weighing in with your U.S. Senators to encourage them to cosponsor the bill (S.1957). You can do this quickly and easily through the IDFA Campaign Center. Click the button below to advocate now!
Background and Talking Points
For many decades, whole and reduced-fat milk options were staples in school cafeterias. Yet in 2012, USDA removed these options from school cafeterias that participate in federal school meals programs. In the years since, school milk consumption dropped, school meal participation dropped, and more food is wasted in school cafeterias. When children do not drink milk at school, they miss out on a key opportunity to consume milk’s unique nutrient profile and benefit from its positive impact on growth, development, healthy immune function, mental health, and overall wellness. It is important to provide children with a wide variety of milk options that they will drink and that meet their individual needs—whether that be whole or 2%, low-fat, or lactose-free milks.
Most American households have whole and 2% milk in the refrigerator—in fact, 75% of all retail and institutional sales of milk are whole and 2%. Whole, reduced-fat and lactose-free milk contain the same nutrients as all other fluid milk, including calcium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. Importantly, recent research has shown that there is no harm, and some potential benefits of full-fat dairy foods such as whole milk, including less weight gain and neutral or lower risk of heart disease. Several recent research studies (including systematic reviews and meta-analysis) examining the effect of higher fat milk consumption found that it was associated with lower childhood obesity and concluded that dietary guidelines that recommend reduced-fat milk versions might not lower the risk of childhood obesity.
Please reach out to Rob Rosado at rrosado@idfa.org with any questions about the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
Thank you for your support!
Source
What’s Next?
The focus now turns to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, which has jurisdiction over child nutrition issues. The Senate must consider and pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the end of the 118th Congress, or by January 3, 2025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider weighing in with your U.S. Senators to encourage them to cosponsor the bill (S.1957). You can do this quickly and easily through the IDFA Campaign Center. Click the button below to advocate now!
Background and Talking Points
For many decades, whole and reduced-fat milk options were staples in school cafeterias. Yet in 2012, USDA removed these options from school cafeterias that participate in federal school meals programs. In the years since, school milk consumption dropped, school meal participation dropped, and more food is wasted in school cafeterias. When children do not drink milk at school, they miss out on a key opportunity to consume milk’s unique nutrient profile and benefit from its positive impact on growth, development, healthy immune function, mental health, and overall wellness. It is important to provide children with a wide variety of milk options that they will drink and that meet their individual needs—whether that be whole or 2%, low-fat, or lactose-free milks.
Most American households have whole and 2% milk in the refrigerator—in fact, 75% of all retail and institutional sales of milk are whole and 2%. Whole, reduced-fat and lactose-free milk contain the same nutrients as all other fluid milk, including calcium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. Importantly, recent research has shown that there is no harm, and some potential benefits of full-fat dairy foods such as whole milk, including less weight gain and neutral or lower risk of heart disease. Several recent research studies (including systematic reviews and meta-analysis) examining the effect of higher fat milk consumption found that it was associated with lower childhood obesity and concluded that dietary guidelines that recommend reduced-fat milk versions might not lower the risk of childhood obesity.
Please reach out to Rob Rosado at rrosado@idfa.org with any questions about the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
Thank you for your support!
Source
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