Whole Milk Returns to School Cafeterias, But Milk Fat Won't Count Against Saturated Fat Limits

The “Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025” is a two-part bill aimed squarely at changing what kids drink at school and how school kitchens handle food allergies. On the nutrition front, it amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools to offer students whole milk—organic or non-organic—alongside the current reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free options. This is a significant shift, as federal standards have pushed schools toward lower-fat dairy for years. Crucially, the bill specifies that the fat in any fluid milk provided by the school will not be counted when calculating whether a meal complies with the average saturated fat limits set by federal regulations (7 C.F.R. 210.10).

The Dairy Shift: Flexibility vs. Fat Content

For parents and students, this means whole milk, which is often preferred for taste, is back on the menu. For the dairy industry, this is a win, potentially boosting demand for whole milk products. But here’s the fine print: by exempting milk fat from the saturated fat calculation, the bill effectively removes a key nutritional guardrail. A school could now serve a meal that, on paper, meets the saturated fat limit, but because of the whole milk, the total saturated fat consumed by the student is substantially higher than current standards intend. While whole milk offers great nutrients, this exemption raises questions for those concerned about childhood obesity and long-term heart health guidelines.

New Rules for Substitutions and Allergies

Beyond the milk fat debate, the bill introduces two practical changes that affect parents and kitchen staff. First, it updates the rules for milk substitutions. Currently, if a child needs a substitute for fluid milk (like a lactose-free or non-dairy option), it typically requires a medical statement from a physician. This bill expands that flexibility, allowing a substitution to be provided based on a statement from a physician, parent, or legal guardian. This is a huge convenience for busy parents who need to make dietary accommodations for their kids without having to schedule a doctor’s visit just for a note.

Second, the bill mandates a critical update to the required national training for local school food service personnel. This training must now include comprehensive information on food allergies, specifically covering best practices to prevent, recognize, and respond to food-related allergic reactions (42 U.S.C. 1776(g)(2)(B)(iii)). For any parent of a child with severe allergies, this is a major safety upgrade. It means the people handling and serving the food will be required to have up-to-date training on how to avoid cross-contamination and what to do if a reaction occurs, which is essential for managing risk in a busy cafeteria environment.