Whole Milk Is Back: A Game Changer for Dairy

The "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) strategy, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., plans to reintroduce whole milk in schools. This requires rewriting national dietary guidelines and altering U.S. Department of Agriculture policies, marking a potential turning point in national dietary policy.

Agribusiness sees this as a massive win, potentially unlocking a sizeable market for dairy producers and processors. With the focus shifting from low-fat and skim milk, this policy change reflects broader efforts to address public health concerns. The strategy also plans to upd ate recommendations for fluoride and PFAS chemicals in water and intensify drug advertising law enforcement.

While some aspects of the strategy have caused concern, it has been met with optimism from agricultural groups. The initiative highlights the complex relationship between government regulation and the food supply chain, with significant implications for consumption patterns and industry health.
As the international dairy economics community monitors these developments, the reintroduction of whole milk in US schools could se t a precedent globally and signal shifts in both opportunities and challenges for dairy producers.