dairy

Dairy Industry Applauds USDA Secretary Perdue for Supporting School Milk Options

DanDairy and Livestock, Industry News Release

dairyDairy leaders thanked newly confirmed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for recognizing the important role school milk plays in ensuring school-aged children get the nutrition they need.

In one of his first actions as Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue visited Catoctin Elementary School in Leesburg, Va., to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will implement regulations to allow school districts to again offer low-fat (1%) flavored milk as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. Under the Obama Administration, USDA eliminated low-fat flavored milk as an option in the school meal and a la carte programs. Since then, consumption of school milk declined, as did overall participation in the school lunch program.

Mulhern

“In just the first two years after low-fat flavored milk was removed from the program, 1.1 million fewer school students drank milk with their lunch,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “Secretary Perdue’s action today recognizes that a variety of milks and other healthy dairy foods are integral to child nutrition programs in schools.”

“Secretary Perdue took an important step toward bringing back lunchroom favorites – low-fat chocolate and strawberry milk – that students have been missing,” said J. David Carlin, senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy for the International Dairy Foods Association. “When kids don’t drink milk, it’s extremely difficult for them to get the proper amounts of calcium, potassium, Vitamin D and other nutrients that dairy foods supply.”

Perdue was joined in Virginia by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS). Throughout the visit, Perdue outlined principles to provide schools greater flexibility while maintaining the nutritional standards of the program.

Carlin

“We would also like to thank Sen. Roberts for his efforts to bring more milk options and flexibility to the School Lunch and School Breakfast programs,” said Carlin.  In the House, Reps. GT Thompson (R-PA) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) were also strong supporters of enhancing the milk options available to school kids.

USDA will publish an interim rule to cover the regulatory changes needed to allow low-fat flavored milk in schools.  It is unclear when the change will be implemented.

Share this Post

Chad Bianco: “California Is in Crisis—And Agriculture Is Paying the Price”

July 13, 2025

California Fresh Fruit Industry Faces Crisis

July 13, 2025

Hilton Slams Solar on Farmland, Pledges Support for California Ag

July 12, 2025

David Tangipa: Defending California Farmers from Costly Policies

July 4, 2025

Morada Nut’s Jameson on Walnut Market Challenges

July 4, 2025

Water, Land, and Policy: Farmer Andrew Leimgruber Speaks Out

July 2, 2025

California Walnut Comeback: Norene’s Outlook

July 1, 2025

Jeff Bitter Warns: Wine Grape Growers Face Tough Road Ahead

June 29, 2025

Morada Produce Reports Cherry Shortage

June 29, 2025

Cunha on Immigration, Labor, Regulatory Reform

June 26, 2025

Joel Allen on Westside Farming, Family Legacy, and Football Fame

June 26, 2025

California’s Meat Industry Faces Historic Supply Crunch

June 19, 2025

“My Job Depends On Ag” Celebrates 10 Years of Grassroots Impact

June 18, 2025

Ryan Jacobsen: Defending California Agriculture

June 16, 2025

Generations of Growth: Daniel Jackson on Family Tree Farms’ Roots, Innovation, Future

June 7, 2025

California Freight Crisis Hits Farmers and Truckers Hard: A Conversation with Nick Foglio

June 5, 2025

Steve Hilton Pledges to Restore California Agriculture and Fight Regulatory Extremism

May 27, 2025

Fifth-Generation Dairy Farmer Sounds Alarm on California Ag Issues

May 26, 2025

AgNet News Hour Friday, 07-18-25

July 18, 2025

Trump Administration Ends Regional Food Business Centers Program

July 18, 2025

Beef Industry Backs USDA Farm Security Plan

July 18, 2025

U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Boosts Agriculture and Energy Exports

July 18, 2025