Returning the ‘Whole’ Cow to US Lunchrooms: Why Some Say Children Need Whole Milk

The age-old argument in favor of keeping “healthy fat” The human diet is gaining momentum as nutritionists, farmers, legislators and nutritionists push for whole milk return to schools.

This crusade is backed by research showing that options like whole milk deliver critical fat-soluble vitamins and contribute to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Advocates say U.S. children deserve to have the full spectrum of milk varieties—including whole—available to them in the cafeteria.

Nutrition experts are concerned about this because the Obama-era ban of whole and 2 percent milk has had a rapid impact on the milk consumption in schools. This ban began in 2012.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), stopped full-fat milk distribution in lunchrooms that year.

In 2008, milk consumption began to fall in schools. However, it increased quickly after the USDA ban on full fat dairy.

Between 2008-2018, the average milk consumption per student fell from 4.03 bottles down to 3.39 bottles.

“Scientific evidence is really pointing to there being an overall survival advantage to the consumption of milk and dairy products,” The Epoch Times was told by Adam Lock.

Lock is an associate professor at Michigan State University’s Department of Animal Science. Lock believes that milk generally contains many essential nutrients. This includes high-quality proteins, minerals, and vitamins.

He noted, in addition, that evidence is growing suggesting that milk’s fatty acid may offer health benefits.

The Skinny on Fat

“For far too long, milk fat got a bad rap due to the saturated fat content. All ruminant products will have high levels of saturated fat … but not all saturated fat is the same. In fact, milk probably has the most diverse matrix of different fatty acids,” Lock spoke.

You need fat to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. These vitamins, A and D, are abundant in milk. But, without fat, it is impossible to absorb fat-soluble vitamin.

Lock stated, “Fat-free milk would contain little to no fat-soluble vitamins since there’s no fat present.”

Lock pointed out that whole milk has the highest fat content but the fat level is still very low.

“As an aside, it’s also important to remember that whole fluid milk still only contains 3.25 percent fat. Much less than what most people think,” He explained.

So, how did the higher-fat milks disappear from schools’ shelves?

It was part the former President Barack Obama’s campaign to make lunchrooms healthier. However, farmers and legislators are now taking action to support giving children the right to drink whole milk.

Senator Roger Marshall (R.Kan.), expressed concern that whole milk could be deprived of its health benefits to children during a February Congressional hearing.

Marshall spoke from his experiences as a doctor. “We’re going to have a generation of men and women with osteoporosis a decade sooner than a generation where we were all raised on whole milk.”

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President, Rick Ebert, told reporters during a March 2022 press conference, “Schools should have the ability to provide healthy options for students … whole milk contains a number of key nutrients essential for good health and is a more flavorful product.”

Ebert’s comment was in direct response to House Bill2397, which allows schools distribution of whole and flavored milk as long as it’s bottled and manufactured in Pennsylvania.

On March 30, 2022, the bill was unanimously passed by the House committee.

Similar legislation has been introduced within the past few year. In 2019, U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (Republican-Wis.) & Pat Toomey(Republican-Pa.) introduced The Milk in Lunches for Kids Act (MILK) which allows schools to serve any form of milk including whole.

“Overregulation has limited the healthy varieties of milk schools can serve students. Since these Obama-era regulations went into place, milk consumption has notably declined in schools across the country,” Johnson said.

Farmers are also joining the fight to return whole milk schools to their homes.

“Full-fat milk is not a demon. Full-fat milk is the most amazingly nutrient-rich food you can possibly consume,” the president of Ronnybrook Farm, Richard Osofsky, told reporters.

Wisconsin and Kansas dairy producers support the movement for whole milk. They hope to capitalize on Pennsylvania’s grassroots efforts to pass favorable legislation.

Although there is ample evidence to support whole milk’s benefits, not all people believe that whole milk should be taught in schools.

The jury is still out

“I don’t see any nutritional advantages to offering whole milk to school-aged children, and with consideration to childhood obesity rates, I am not in favor of it,” Jennifer Masters spoke for The Epoch Times.

Masters is a certified LEAP therapist—a specially trained dietician—at Integrative Nutrition Solutions. It’s important to keep in mind that there is still much to learn about whole milk fat.

“The impact of saturated fat consumption continues to be one of the leading controversies in nutritional science,” She spoke.

“It is clear that saturated fat in the diet raises LDL cholesterol levels. However, whether or not LDL cholesterol levels contribute to cardiovascular disease in a particular individual likely depends on several other factors.”

Lock said that cholesterol is not enough to measure the health effects of full-fat dairy.

“Changes in cholesterol levels are only one risk factor for heart disease. The premise that the diet-heart hypothesis was based on was fatally flawed from the outset,” He said that he added, “We know that drinking milk can raise cholesterol somewhat, but it raises HDL and LDL. The ratio is perhaps most important for this one risk factor.”

Studies have shown that whole milk consumption is associated with a lower rate of childhood obesity.

A 2020 meta analysis revealed that higher consumption of cow milk fat was associated with lower rates of juvenile obesity in 18 research studies.

Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, however, defended USDA’s decision to eliminate full-fat dairy products from cafeterias. He said that the nation had been on the forefront of this issue for a long time. “right track” Since 2010, school meals have been included in the price

His comments reinforce President Joe Biden’s national strategy to end hunger and other diet-related diseases by 2030.

School lunch programs play a crucial role in this strategy.

The Food and Drug Administration also proposed new regulations to further tighten this belt by redefining nutritional guidelines and what qualifies as “healthy” food.

Current regulations will be updated during the academic year 2024-2025.