Wisconsin Experts Weigh In On Federal Proposal To Allow More Flavored Milk In School Lunches

Wisconsin dairy organizations say a federal proposal to allow more varieties of flavored milk in school lunches would help increase milk consumption.

But health experts in the state worry the measure could send the wrong message to students.

Since 2012, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs have required flavored milk to be fat free. Now federal lawmakers have proposed loosening the rule to include 1 percent options that are no more than 150 calories per serving.

Jamie Mara, spokesman for the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative, said some kids may not like the taste of fat free milk and would be discouraged from drinking it.

“Children really need a variety, and the schools need the flexibility to provide it,” Mara said. “So the more options available, the better the opportunity is to get kids to try a healthier food.”

Even with the added sugar, Mara said the protein and nutrients students get from milk mean flavored milk is still a healthy option in moderation.

But Cassandra Vanderwall, a clinical nutritionist from UW Health, disagrees.

“I don’t think flavoring milk or giving a child chocolate-flavored xyz to get them to eat it because it has some nutritional component is a good idea or a good message,” Vanderwall said.

Vanderwall said school lunch is an opportunity for kids to learn and practice healthy eating habits. And allowing them to choose milk with added sugar conflicts with those lessons.

“We have to be careful in using food as a teaching tool in the school food environment and really helping to make the healthy choice the easy choice,” Vanderwall said.