Should whole milk stay banned in schools? What to know as House votes to end ban

The House of Representatives voted to allow whole milk in public schools in an attempt to put an Obama-era ban out to pasture.

The bill, dubbed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act — one of several pieces of legislation churned out on Dec. 13 — passed in a bipartisan vote with 330 members in favor and 99 opposed. To take effect, it must be approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The legislation revises federal regulations to allow whole, low-fat, and flavored milk in public schools, overturning a 2010 law that mandated schools participating in the National School Lunch Program offer only fat-free or 1% fat milk.

“For too long milk has been unfairly demonized,” Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican who introduced the legislation, wrote in a post on X.

“Milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, offering 13 essential nutrients and numerous health benefits,” Thompson, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, said in a statement. “However, out-of-touch and outdated federal regulations have imposed restrictions on the types of milk students have access to in school meals.”

The legislation, which was supported by the dairy industry, was also introduced by Rep. Kim Schrier, a Washington Democrat and pediatrician.

“I have spent my career dedicated to the well-being of children and I know how important adequate nutrition is for growing kids,” Schrier said in a statement. “Whole milk is a filling, nutritious option that will help ensure that our children are well-fed and healthy.”

Rep. Josh Brecheen, an Oklahoma Republican who voted in favor of the bill, said in a post on X that the Obama-era guidelines it would overturn were “misguided.”

Former First Lady Michelle Obama, whose signature Let’s Move! campaign aimed to combat childhood obesity, championed the 2010 law restricting whole milk in schools.

At the time, the bill was aligned with guidance from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which has long recommended people steer clear of whole milk.

But in recent years, new research has emerged showing whole milk may be a healthier alternative to low-fat milk.

A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that “relative to reduced-fat cow-milk, whole-fat cow-milk consumption was associated with lower odds of childhood overweight or obesity.”

The authors speculated several potential explanations for this finding, including that children might feel more full after drinking whole milk, thereby decreasing desire for more calorie-dense food. It’s also possible, the authors said, that parents of heavier kids may give them low-fat milk to combat obesity.

Multiple studies in recent years have said that further research is needed to better understand the relationship between milk and obesity.

The vote on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which came days before Congress is scheduled to go on recess, was not popular with all House members, though.

“Instead of providing aid to our allies or funding the government, today Congress voted on whether or not to [checks notes] Deregulate milk?” Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote in a post on X.

“Like, sure,” he added, “but can (House Speaker Mike Johnson) please let us vote on important stuff too?”

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