This is an exciting week for dairy farmers. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 has officially been signed into law.
The legislation allows school lunch programs to offer a broader range of dairy milk options, including whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk, in addition to the currently permitted low-fat (1%), fat-free (skim), flavored and unflavored, and lactose-free dairy milk.
What We’re Doing
ADA North East will focus on thoughtful, coordinated implementation across the region by:
- Working with appropriate state-level authorities (Departments of Education or Agriculture, depending on state structure) to understand how implementation will occur in each state.
- Encouraging school districts to include whole and 2% milk options in their 2026–2027 school milk bids.
- Communicating with processors that service school milk accounts to assess availability and pricing for the newly approved milk options.
- Continuing to promote additional dairy offerings in school cafeterias, such as hot chocolate milk, smoothies, and lattes.
Key Points to Keep in Mind
- The legislation permits schools to offer whole and 2% milk; it does not require them to do so.
- While schools may begin serving whole milk immediately, many are unlikely to make changes until the next bid cycle, likely starting in fall 2026.
- This change applies to the school lunch program only; school breakfast programs are not included.
How Dairy Farmers Can Support Local School Districts
School districts are receiving this information at the same time as everyone else. Menu changes often require multiple approvals and careful consideration of budgets, contracts, and logistics.
School districts are receiving this information at the same time as everyone else. Menu changes often require multiple approvals and careful consideration of budgets, contracts, and logistics.
Patience and partnership will be key.
Helpful messages for conversations with school leaders and community members:
- We are advocating for more nutritious choices in schools.
- Many families already choose whole milk at home; this update allows children to select options that are familiar to them at school.
- This change is supported by emerging research on full-fat dairy.
- We all share the same goal: providing kids with nourishing, appealing meals.
Points to Pause On
While enthusiasm is understandable, it’s important to approach conversations thoughtfully:
While enthusiasm is understandable, it’s important to approach conversations thoughtfully:
- Avoid dismissive statements about skim or low-fat milk; all dairy milk options provide important nutrition.
- Our shared goal is to increase milk consumption overall, regardless of fat level.
- Claims about whole milk and brain development should be presented accurately and aligned with the full body of science.
- Recognize that school nutrition professionals face pressures similar to farmers—tight budgets, rising costs, and high expectations.
- Like farming, school nutrition is not a profession people enter to “get rich,” but to serve their communities.
A Note of Appreciation
We are proud of the role dairy farmers played in achieving this milestone. Your dairy checkoff dollars funded critical research on the health benefits of full-fat dairy and helped ensure the science supported this policy change.
We are proud of the role dairy farmers played in achieving this milestone. Your dairy checkoff dollars funded critical research on the health benefits of full-fat dairy and helped ensure the science supported this policy change.
We will continue to share updates as implementation guidance becomes available.
For specific questions about the legislation, we recommend contacting National Milk Producers Federation.
Editor’s Note: American Dairy Association North East cannot take a position on legislation and policy. This information is for educational purposes only.
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