June 21, 2024 — Americans have long been taught that milk is an essential part of a healthy diet, especially for children, but nutrition experts are beginning to question whether milk should have a place on the nation’s school lunch trays.
To receive federal funding, schools must serve milk at every breakfast and lunch, and some schools mandate that all students consume milk. Other beverages, such as water, cannot be served in competition with milk or used as a substitute for milk in subsidized meals.
Experts say these policies are problematic for several reasons. Most people of color and many white people are lactose intolerant, which can make them sick if they consume dairy products. Plus, when we feed our kids milk, nearly half ends up in the trash, leading to significant food waste. Dairy production has a larger carbon footprint than non-dairy alternatives like soy or almond milk. Plus, its nutritional superstar status seems overstated.
Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition, said milk is optional for people following a healthy diet and that the recommended three servings of dairy a day isn’t necessary for most adults and adolescents.
Erica Kenney, an assistant professor of public health nutrition, cited the study in a May 31 Vox article and said milk should always be an option in school lunches. Both children and adults need calcium for healthy bones, but she noted that they can get it from sources other than milk, such as nuts, tofu, and dark green leafy vegetables. There are other ways to improve bone health, such as reducing alcohol intake and exercising.
Read the Vox article: Big Milk Has Taken Over America’s Schools
Photo: iStock / Bonnie
