Reps. Courtney, Thompson Welcome Updated Milk Options In New Child Nutrition Standards

Statement

Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Congressman Glen "GT" Thompson (R-PA) today welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture's transitional child nutrition standards, which among other things allows schools and childcare providers to offer low-fat (1%) milk in addition to nonfat flavored milk and nonfat or low-fat unflavored milk through the 2023-2024 school year. Courtney and Thompson have long worked together across the aisle to advocate for this common-sense update to school nutrition standards, last updated in 2012.

In May 2021, Courtney and Thompson sent a bipartisan letter to USDA signed by 55 Members of Congress in support of maintaining low fat flavored milk in school lunch programs. The letter notes that the supporting Members support working with USDA to ensure that schools can choose which varieties of milk to serve from all options consistent with the Dietary Guidelines. Click here to read their letter.

"I welcome the announcement by USDA that low-fat flavored milk will once again be explicitly part of USDA's transitional school nutrition standards," Courtney said. "I have worked side by side with my friend Congressman GT Thompson on this issue for years, supporting legislation and discussions with both Democratic and Republican Administrations to allow flexibility for low-fat flavored milk in schools. At a time when our hard-hit dairy sector continues to work to rebound from COVID, this new standard will ensure that children are drinking adequate milk in schools, essentially to healthy bone and nutritional development. Milk consumption had declined in recent years and this change will ensure that children are drinking nutritious and filling milk at school. I thank Secretary Vilsack for supporting these efforts."

"Milk provides multiple essential nutrients that promote healthy development in our children," Rep. Thompson said. "I applaud USDA's decision to preserve 1% flavored milk in school cafeterias and hope this will continue the conversation for the reintroduction of whole milk in our schools. If students don't drink milk, then all the health benefits are lost, and the best way to encourage consumption is to let them choose the option they like best."

"Ensuring kids have access to the nutrients they need to grow and thrive is a top priority for dairy," said National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern. "We thank USDA for the rule's provision that maintains schools' ability to serve low-fat, 1% flavored milk. One percent flavored milk is not only fully consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it is also a nutrient-dense, low-fat healthy option kids will choose to drink. I would also like to thank Representatives Joe Courtney and G.T. Thompson for their long-time leadership on this issue. We look forward to continuing to work with them, USDA, and others to help ensure everyone has access to nutritious food."

Background:

Courtney and Thompson are the bipartisan authors of the School Milk Nutrition Act, which they re-introduced in July 2021, legislation to expand milk options for students and reverse the decline of milk consumption in schools. The bill would codify 2018 rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provided schools with the option to serve a variety of healthy milk options to students, including low-fat milk with flavor. The bill also requires the milk offered to be consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs)--and low-fat flavored milk remains consistent.

Reps. Courtney and Thompson are both members of the bipartisan Congressional Dairy Caucus, where Courtney serves as Co-Chairman.

In November 2017, USDA announced the School Meal Flexibility Rule to provide regulatory changes for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and in December 2018, the final rule provided schools with the option to serve low-fat, 1% flavored milk. However, that rulemaking was challenged in court, and in April 2020 a U.S. District Court vacated and remanded the final rule to USDA for violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. Importantly, the milk provision of the rule was not challenged.

Since then, Congress has provided interim stability and certainly in the form of provisions in the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations Act and the pending FY22 Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Source