The outcome of today’s endorsement by the White House and senior Biden-Harris administration officials of this Commitment is that we are much closer to preserving wholesome, nutritious flavored milk in our nation’s school meals program for students in all grades. Last year, USDA proposed eliminating flavored milk entirely from the meals program or limiting its availability to just some grades. Since IDFA and the 37 processors associated with this effort announced the Healthy School Milk Commitment in April 2023, USDA officials have lauded the effort as a positive example of industry stepping up to meet the Department’s goals of healthier school meals. School nutrition organizations and health groups have also supported the effort.
More than two-thirds of milk consumed by children in school today is flavored, such as chocolate and strawberry milk. Therefore, the reductions in sugar and calories achieved by the Healthy School Milk Commitment are critical to improving child nutrition. USDA’s school meals program—including school breakfast and lunch—serves more than 30 million children every day with nutritious meals, while USDA’s Summer Food Service Program brings the benefits of school meals to as many as 3.2 million food insecure children in the summer months when school is out of session and access to healthy meals is a challenge for low-income families. School milk offers 13 essential nutrients, including high quality protein, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin D, and potassium, and the is the number-one source of protein, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium for children ages 2-18. A plethora of scientific literature demonstrates that consumption of cow’s milk provides children with better bone health, a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, and lower risk for cardiovascular disease. Children who drink flavored milk consume more milk and therefore have significantly higher intakes of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and other nutrients.
According to surveys among school milk processors conducted by IDFA and Prime Consulting, the level of added sugars in flavored milk products has declined by 55% between 2006 and 2023, from 16.7 grams per 8-ounce serving in 2006 to 7.5 grams of added sugar per serving in 2023 as milk processors signed on to the Commitment and began reformulating products in advance of the 2025 school year. Calories associated with flavored milk have declined during that same period, as well, from 166 to 125 calories per 8-ounce serving, for a reduction of 41 calories. Meanwhile, parents of school-age children continue to be big supporters of offering flavored milk in schools today. In a survey by Morning Consult commissioned by IDFA conducted between June 9-11, 2023 among a sample of 441 parents with children in public schools, 89% agree that non-fat or low-fat flavored milk should remain an option in public school meals.
Please visit www.healthyschoolmilk.org for more information.
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