Whole milk could soon return to school lunchrooms on Long Island

Whole milk could once again be served in Long Island's school lunchrooms — more than a decade after it was banned — if President Donald Trump signs a new bill calling for its return.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act recently passed both chambers of Congress. If it becomes law, schools would have the option to serve unflavored and flavored milk with the fuller-fat content as well as plant-based milks.

Since 2012, schools participating in the federally reimbursed school meals program have only been allowed to offer fat-free and 1% low-fat milk, flavored and unflavored. The change was part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in 2010 under then President Barack Obama, which limited sugar, fat and sodium in school meals to combat childhood obesity.

“Whole milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, and students should have the option to choose the milk they love," Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvannia Republican and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and sponsor of the bill, said in a release.

The proposed change challenges public guidelines that have advised generations of Americans that cutting saturated fats, such as those found in dairy, is vital for health and for preventing obesity and disease. 

While new research supports the change, reaction has been mixed. Some school officials and nutrition experts have welcomed it, arguing it may encourage more kids to drink milk and cut down on waste due to students taking the lower-fat product but then refusing to drink it. 

But others say the risks of whole milk — including increased saturated fats and cholesterol — outweigh any possible benefits. They say the regulations currently in place should remain.

“I think nutrition can start in schools — especially with childhood obesity or just keeping heart health in our forefront," said Emily Feivor, a registered dietitian at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital in Queens.

Saturated fats debate

While saturated fat has been linked to increased cholesterol, new research since 2010 has found that some foods containing these fats, such as dairy products, also have beneficial properties that may exceed those health risks. One large study found that people who consumed whole-fat dairy as young adults showed less indicators of heart disease later.

Whole milk is recommended for children younger than 2, who need saturated fat for brain development. But some established organizations continue to support reduced-fat milk for children older than 2 years old. For example, the American Heart Association recommends fat-free milk, fortified 1% and 2% low-fat milk.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are being revised, also advise those over age 2 to choose fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk. “Intake of saturated fat should be limited to less than 10% of calories per day,” according to the 2020-2025 guidelines released under the USDA. According to Reuters, the new guidelines will be released early next year.

Under the bill headed to Trump's desk, saturated fats from milk would not be counted toward a student's total recommended fat content.

The New York State School Boards Association, based in Latham, has been advocating for the bill. Several school officials on Long Island also expressed their support.

Brian Fessler, chief advocacy officer at the school boards association, said that since the ban, research has shown that milk consumption has declined in schools. Between 2008 and 2018, weekly milk consumption per student dipped 15%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The return of whole milk has been championed by the dairy industry and some health experts.

“Including this allowance has some benefits for students, has benefits for schools, and has benefits for our dairy farmers — that is important in New York and in a number of states,” Fessler said.

Cold Spring Harbor schools Superintendent Joseph Monastero said that allowing schools to offer whole and 2% milk will make it likelier that students will consume the beverage, which provides calcium, vitamin D, potassium and protein.

"When milk options are limited to skim or low-fat only, many students skip milk altogether and substitute less nutritious, sugar-sweetened or highly caffeinated beverages," Monastero said in a statement.

Sharon Dyke, school lunch coordinator at the Middle Country school district, said the bill would offer more choices for kids.

"Ultimately, it comes down to students' and their families' preferences. The essential nutrients found in milk can only be obtained when consumed, so providing a variety of milk choices that cater to different tastes is preferable,” Dyke said in an email.

Ann Pedersen, superintendent of the Lawrence schools, added, “We would like to see that as some students have a preference and do not drink the lower fat milks. This will be a benefit for the children and reduce waste."

But not everyone is on board.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 2 and older transition from whole milk to “low-fat dairy products to reduce intake of saturated fat and calories, and help prevent childhood obesity and lower risks for heart health issues,” Dr. Eve Meltzer-Krief, vice president of the American Academic of Pediatrics' New York chapter, said in a text message.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2017 to March 2020, 19.7% of children ages 2 to 19 were obese. That's about 14.7 million youths nationwide.

But Armin Khan, the manager of nutrition and dietetics at Cohen Children's Medical Center, said the fat content in milk helps with the absorption of vitamin D, keeps kids satiated longer and will give all children equal access to what she feels is the more nutritious option.

Khan also favors providing plant-based options for students who can't consume dairy either due to allergies or religious or dietary restrictions. Currently, a doctor’s note is required for students to receive such options but under the bill students would only need a note from a parent or legal guardian.

“There is value in giving milk to children in school and letting them select what they like. I know with my own grandkids, if they drink milk, they're not going to be looking for more snacks in the house … because they're feeling fuller longer, " Khan said.

She also believes the change will eliminate waste. “They're probably throwing away a lot of milk right now, because kids just don't ... generally pick up skim milk,” she said.

By Lorena Mongelli

lorena.mongelli@newsday.com

Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.