New act would allow schools to serve whole, 2% milk

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WJAC) — Lawmakers have introduced a new act in hopes of allowing schools to once again serve whole milk and 2% milk.

The Milk in Lunches for Kids Act has been introduced by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, of Pennsylvania.

“Every parent knows milk does a body good,” said Toomey. “In 2010, the Obama administration and Congress erred in prohibiting whole milk and 2% from being served in schools. This decision has led to a sharp decline in consumption across the country, which means kids are not getting essential nutrients milk provides. This measure fixes that error and permits schools to sell whole and 2% milk once again.”

The MILK Act would also require the secretary of agriculture to revise a regulation to exclude milk fat from the current cap on saturated fat in school lunches.

The act is being co-sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, and has gained support from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and various dairy organizations across the state.

“Dairy producers across the state are very concerned that we are losing an entire generation of milk drinkers and the nutrition milk provides to growing children due to the less appealing skim and low-fat milk currently being served. Sen. Toomey’s proposal goes a long way in addressing this concern,” said Somerset County dairy farmer Glenn Stoltzfus.

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