WASHINGTON — Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Congressman Antonio Delgado, D-N.Y., have introduced a bill to allow for unflavored and flavored whole milk to be offered in school cafeterias.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2021 highlights the many benefits milk provides to young Americans. From providing numerous essential nutrients to multiple health benefits, milk remains critical to youth development.

“Milk provides nine essential nutrients as well as a great deal of long-term health benefits. Due to the baseless demonization of milk over the years, we’ve lost nearly an entire generation of milk drinkers, and these young people are missing out on the benefits of whole milk,” said Thompson.

In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which amended nutrition standards in the School Lunch Program. Among the changes, the law mandated that flavored milk must be fat-free within the program.

“Whole milk provides a valuable way for children to obtain dairy’s nutritional benefits as part of a healthy eating pattern,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “This bill will help provide our children the nutrition they need to lead healthy lives.”