Senate Moves Forward on Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

Producers across the Southeast are taking note of a federal move that could change what students see on their lunch trays. The Senate has passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Supporters say it would give schools more flexibility by allowing the full range of milk options back into the National School Lunch Program.

That includes flavored and unflavored choices, organic or non-organic, and everything from whole to fat-free. While states in this region aren’t the largest dairy producers, school nutrition policy still influences local markets and helps set expectations for what foods kids grow up choosing.

John Newton, vice president of public policy and economic analysis for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the push behind this legislation has been building for years.

“They contribute to healthy children and healthy outcomes. American Farm Bureau dairy farmer members have been pushing for this for a very, very, very long time, and I think seeing the Senate passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is going to be welcome news in the dairy world and really across the farm economy.”

Smith: The measure now heads to the House.