USDA Proposes Only Serving Chocolate Milk to High School Students

Chocolate milk has long been a staple item on every student’s lunch tray. But it appears that chocolate milk's days in schools across the country could be numbered. The reason behind the potential ban? A war on added sugars.

According to the USDA, a recent analysis of USDA’s School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study data found that flavored milk is the leading source of added sugars in both the school lunch and breakfast programs, contributing almost half of the added sugars in lunches and about 30% of the added sugars in breakfasts. To combat this, the USDA is offering two alternatives to the current dietary guidelines and plans to gather public feedback on both approaches.

The two proposed alternatives to the current milk standard are:

Alternative A: Beginning in the school year 2025-26, allow flavored milk (fat-free and low-fat) at school lunch and breakfast for high school children (grades 9-12) only. Elementary and middle school children (grades K-8) would be limited to fat-free and/or low-fat unflavored milk. USDA is also requesting public input on whether to extend the age range for flavored milk to also include children in grades 6-8, such that only children in grades K-5 would be limited to fat-free and/or low-fat unflavored milk. Under both scenarios, added sugars in flavored milk would be limited.

Alternative B: Maintain the current standard, which allows all schools to offer fat-free and low-fat milk, flavored and unflavored, at school lunch and breakfast. Added sugars in flavored milk would be limited.

During a recent episode of Farm Journal’s AgriTalk, host Chip Flory spoke with Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) about the proposed chocolate milk ban.

“This [first option] seems like it excludes a whole lot of kids that like low-fat flavored milk,” Flory said.

Tiffany agreed, saying, “I don’t know why the Biden administration is proposing that we eliminate chocolate milk in schools. Coming from America’s Dairyland, we kind of take that personally.”

After hearing the news about USDA’s proposal, Tiffany issued a statement saying, “Out of all the crises the Biden administration should be focused on, how did chocolate milk in school lunches become public enemy number one? Chocolate milk is full of rich nutrients that support bone growth and development, and millions of children enjoy drinking it. From the looks of things, maybe instead of trying to cancel chocolate milk, President Biden ought to drink a carton or two.”

Earlier this month, Tiffany was joined by seven other members of Congress and introduced H.R. 3930, the Milk is Indisputably Liked by Kids Act of 2023 – or MILK Act for short. This legislation would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require schools to offer flavored milk under the school lunch program. Cosponsors of the MILK Act include: Reps. Jim Banks (IN-03), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Scott Perry (PA-10), and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03).

During the AgriTalk segment, Tiffany noted how removing flavored milk options from schools could cause more harm than good.

“They’re saying that there’s more sugar in chocolate [milk], but they’re actually not looking at the broader picture that for many kids, this is oftentimes the only milk they have,” he said. “Sometimes [chocolate milk] is the gateway to being a regular milk consumer.”

Tiffany goes on to note how he is a firm believer in the power of whole milk and says he also introduced a bill last year that would allow whole milk to be served in schools.

“There is nothing wrong with offering whole milk or chocolate milk to children,” he said.

The dairy industry has been supportive of Tiffany’s legislation along with other members of Congress.

“We’ve got a number of co-signers on the bill and people are supportive of it,” Tiffany said.

To listen to the entire AgriTalk session, click here.