IDFA Lauds Senate’s Landmark Passage of Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, Urges Swift House Action

The U.S. Senate has passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 (S.222) by unanimous consent, a landmark step toward restoring whole and 2% milk to America’s school cafeterias. Today’s vote represents a major breakthrough in a long-running effort by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), dairy food companies, dairy farmers, partners, school nutrition leaders, physicians and nutritionists, and parents across the country to restore access to the nutritious milk options children overwhelmingly prefer.

“The long wait is nearly over! We’re closer than ever to bringing whole milk back to schools!” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA.

“Today’s Senate passage is a watershed moment for children’s health and for the dairy farmers, processors, parents, and nutrition advocates who have fought for decades to restore whole and 2% milk to school meals. Whole and 2% milk are wholesome, nutritious options that kids love, and today’s passage gets us one step closer to restoring them to American schools.”

“IDFA is deeply grateful to Sens. Roger Marshall and Peter Welch for leading the bill and to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chair John Boozman and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar for shepherding it through the Senate process. The bipartisan momentum behind this bill is undeniable. We look forward to working with Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, Rep. Kim Schrier and the 116 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House to advance the Senate-passed bill to the President without delay.”

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was approved by the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry in June by voice vote with no objections, and its House companion bill was approved by the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee with a strong, bipartisan vote of 24-10 in February. The Senate-passed bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for passage and delivery to the President for it to be signed into law. IDFA is urging all dairy advocates to contact their federal Representatives in support of the passage of this important legislation at www.idfa.org/wholemilkcampaign.

Background

IDFA members, dairy industry partners, school nutrition professionals, parents, and health experts have stood shoulder to shoulder for years in championing this commonsense fix. Recent national polling by Morning Consult, commissioned by IDFA, shows 91% of parents serve their children whole or 2% milk at home, and 81% of them support Congress passing legislation to reinstate these options in school meals.

Whole and 2% milk provide children with 13 essential nutrients for growth, development, healthy immune function, and overall wellness. Since whole and 2% milk were banned from school meal menus more than a decade ago, school milk consumption and meal participation have declined, meaning children are consuming fewer essential nutrients. This is especially concerning considering underconsumption of milk and dairy products is prevalent among school-aged children, where between 68% and 94% of school-age boys and girls are failing to meet recommended levels of dairy intake per federal guidelines.

Nutrition science has evolved in the past decade to show neutral or positive benefits of full-fat dairy foods such as whole milk, including less weight gain, neutral or lower risk of heart disease, and lower childhood obesity. Learn more about the importance of milk—especially whole and 2% milk—in the diets of healthy children at www.wholemilkforkids.com.