Tag: Milk

The Story: In Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health announced Friday, January 15, that it is abandoning a flu vaccine requirement for students, one it...

Perdue’s chocolate milk salute to the dairy lobby was just one example of how the Trump administration has worked closely with the dairy industry, at a time when the president’s trade war has hurt farmers. The Dairy Farmers of America spent $924,000, including on school milk, according to CRP. Then, in December, the new school milk rules were finalized. They saw milk sales were declining, they continued to decline in schools,” said Frye. Getting low-fat flavored milk back in schools, she said, was one of the “top five” issues for milk processors. The federal rulemaking process requires agencies to seek public comment on new policies. “If we want healthy, informed future citizens in this country let’s start by giving them quality meals in school so they can concentrate and absorb information.” Nevertheless, in its final decision the agency wrote: “After careful consideration of all stakeholders’ comments, USDA believes that school nutrition operators have made the case that this final rule’s targeted regulatory flexibility is practical and necessary for efficient Program operation.” In defense of the new rules, Perdue tweeted: “Nutritious school meals don’t do anyone any good if kids just throw them into the trash.” The USDA was “empowering local schools” to serve “healthy AND appetizing food” – an argument often made by the dairy industry. Kids drank 288 million fewer half pints between 2012 and 2015, lobbyists said. The milk standards are part of the federal government’s subsidized meal program, which feeds more than 31 million kids each day, many of whom get meals free or at reduced prices because their families are low-income. Don't bank on it Read more A nutritionist for the University of California called the idea that chocolate milk could help athletes “preposterous”.