President signs Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, allowing schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer students whole milk, 2% milk and flavored and unflavored options.

This act reverses previous restrictions that mandated low-fat and fat-free milk.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, whole milk is back — and it’s the right move for kids, for parents and for America’s dairy farmers,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

“This bipartisan solution to school meals alongside the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans reinforces what families already know: nutrient dense foods like whole milk are an important part of a healthy diet.”

According to American Dairy Association of Indiana, whole milk has about 150 calories per serving. Milk is rich in nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin D and essential fatty acids.

Your growing child needs vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Pasteurized, whole cow’s milk and fortified soy beverages are good sources of vitamin D and calcium for children 12 months and older,” the CDC says on its website. “Most cow’s milk sold in the U.S. is fortified with vitamin D.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will implement the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act immediately. USDA has issued implementation guidelines to school nutrition officials.

Learn more about the act at https://tinyurl.com/Senate-Bill-222.