Bipartisan bill would bring whole milk back to schools

Bipartisan members from both chambers of Congress have introduced the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow for unflavored and flavored whole and reduced fat (2 percent) milk to be offered in school cafeterias.

The act focuses on highlighting the known health benefits and nutrients milk provides to young Americans, including better bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or Type 2 diabetes. According to the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, milk is a source of two under-consumed nutrients — calcium and vitamin D — along with other key nutrients.

Most importantly, in order for students to benefit from the nutritional content of milk, they must actually consume the milk, which experts believe is more likely to occur with varieties and options.

“Federal policy, based on flawed, outdated science has kept whole milk out of school cafeterias for more than a decade,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), one of the sponsors of the bill. “Milk provides 13 essential nutrients that supplement growth and health, two key factors contributing to academic success.”

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was introduced by Thompson and fellow U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) and U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Peter Welch (D-VT), Dave McCormick (R-PA), and John Fetterman (D-PA).

The measure aims to correct a long error in nutritional policy. Back in 2010 the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was enacted, and among other nutritional standards, it aimed to trim down the fat on cafeteria trays in schools across America. One of the big hits was whole and 2 percent milk — it became illegal (yes, illegal) to serve them in schools.

The reasoning behind this decision was that kids can drink skim milk and supposedly reap all the benefits and leave the fat out. Yet many people inside and out of agriculture have been upset about the 2010 change to school lunch programs, largely because of now having a better understanding of nutritional science and the taste preferences of children.

“As a pediatrician, I know how important a balanced and nutritious diet is for children’s health, well-being, and development,” Schrier said. “A healthy diet early in life leads to proper physical growth and improved academic performance, and can set the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits. Milk is a significant part of many children’s diets and contains essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. This bill simply gives schools the option of providing the types of milk most kids prefer to drink. ”

The fat in whole and 2 percent milk is vital to being able to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and the 13 essential nutrients in milk itself.

“This much-needed bill lets schools offer students the healthful milk options that they are most likely to drink by permitting the serving of nutritious reduced fat and whole milk varieties, critically addressing kids’ under-consumption of milk’s essential nutrients,” said National Milk Producers Federation president and CEO Gregg Doud.

» Related reading: How did whole milk in schools become such a flashpoint of debate?