Washington – School Cafeterias Could Serve Whole Milk Again if House Takes Up Senate Bill
Washington, D.C. — Whole milk could be back on cafeteria menus for students if Congress advances a Senate-passed bill that would loosen federal rules on what types of milk schools may offer at lunch.
The measure, titled the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to explicitly allow schools in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk alongside reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free options, including flavored and unflavored varieties and organic or nonorganic choices.
The bill also addresses how meals are evaluated under nutrition rules: milk fat in fluid milk would not be counted as saturated fat when measuring compliance with allowable average saturated fat limits under federal meal-pattern regulations.
For families who need alternatives, the legislation keeps space for lactose-free milk and nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages that meet standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including fortification requirements for nutrients such as calcium, protein, and vitamins A and D. It also broadens who can request certain substitutions, adding a parent or legal guardian alongside a physician in one provision.
Beyond milk, the bill would update existing training content for school food service staff to include food allergy best practices, focused on prevention, recognition, and response to allergic reactions.
What parents should do now: If your child relies on a milk substitute, check your district’s nutrition page to see what nondairy options are currently offered, and confirm allergy protocols with your school nurse or food service director.
The Senate passed the bill Nov. 20, 2025; the next step is House consideration, and families can watch for updates through their school district and USDA school meals guidance.
This article was produced by a education parenting today journalist with the assistance of Ai. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
