Recently, President Donald Trump of the United States enacted bipartisan legislation permitting school cafeterias to serve whole milk and 2% milk, marking a significant step toward fulfilling the administration’s commitment to “end the war” on saturated fats.
This decision is part of a longstanding debate regarding the impacts of milk fat on children’s health. Since 2012, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, which provides federal funding for school meals, have only been able to offer nonfat or 1% milk to mitigate the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease among children.
Recently, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and members of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative have advocated for whole milk consumption; additionally, newly released federal dietary guidelines encourage Americans to include more whole milk in their diets.
Proponents from the dairy industry, who lobbied for this legislative change, argue that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that whole milk adversely affects children’s health. They believe that some children may prefer the taste of higher-fat milk, which could lead to increased consumption of essential nutrients.
However, health experts question if reintroducing whole milk into schools will significantly enhance children’s overall health and dietary quality.
The Ongoing Milk Debate
There is no denying that milk is rich in essential nutrients. Health organizations recommend that children aged five to eight consume up to 2.5 cups of milk daily, while those aged nine and older should aim for about three cups a day.
Nevertheless, there has been contention among health professionals and lawmakers regarding which types of milk should be encouraged. Since 1990, federal dietary guidelines have recommended that children aged two and above drink skim or low-fat milk to minimize saturated fat intake. This advice has received support from several health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association.
Megan Lott, a registered dietitian at Duke University and deputy director for Healthy Eating Research, notes that lower-fat milk options provide the same essential nutrients—such as protein, calcium, potassium, and vitamin D—as their higher-fat counterparts, but with fewer calories and reduced saturated fat.
Excessive consumption of saturated fat can elevate cholesterol levels and increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular issues, according to research. Additionally, excessive calorie intake may contribute to weight gain among children, Lott explains.
For example, one cup of whole milk contains 80% more calories than nonfat milk and includes 4.5g of saturated fat, while nonfat milk has only trace amounts.
The recent amendment to the school lunch program specifies that the saturated fat present in milk will not count against the current limits on fats served in schools. However, critics, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest—an organization advocating for healthier food policies—argue that this could result in higher levels of saturated fat consumption among children.
According to this organization, between 75% to 85% of children in the U.S. already exceed the recommended saturated fat intake.
“We certainly don’t want kids to get an overwhelming amount of saturated fat,” stated Dr. Steven Abrams, a pediatrics professor at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, who did not participate in the legislation. Despite his concerns, he supports the law, noting a lack of evidence linking whole milk consumption to obesity or detrimental health outcomes in normally healthy children, regardless of its saturated fat content.
Interestingly, some research suggests the opposite. A 2020 study indicated that children who drank whole milk were less likely to be overweight or obese compared to those who preferred lower-fat alternatives. Furthermore, limited studies indicate that the type of milk consumed by children may have minimal impact on their blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Most of these findings have stemmed from observational studies, which are limited in their ability to establish direct cause-and-effect relationships, as many do not adequately account for other factors influencing children’s diets and health.
However, two small clinical trials conducted in Australia revealed that children who drank whole milk for three months did not experience more weight gain than those consuming lower-fat options. Additionally, several larger clinical trials are currently ongoing in the U.S. and Canada to further examine the implications of whole milk versus lower-fat options on children’s health. Lott expresses hope that these future studies will help clarify the ongoing debate.
What Type of Milk Is Best?
Determining the best type of milk for a child largely depends on their individual health status. If a child is over two years old and significantly overweight, Abrams suggests that lower-fat options like nonfat or 1% milk may be preferable due to calorie content. However, for most children, any unsweetened, pasteurized milk is acceptable. (It is essential to note that children should never consume unpasteurized or raw milk due to the risk of foodborne illnesses.)
For underweight children, higher-fat milk may be advantageous. Lott emphasizes that personalized dietary advice from a pediatrician or dietitian is beneficial in these situations.
Milk consumption has seen a notable decline among U.S. children in recent years, with a corresponding rise in the intake of sugary beverages such as soda and sports drinks, which is concerning because milk is a vital source of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. If allowing whole milk in schools results in increased milk consumption among children, it could have positive implications for their health, according to Abrams.
Still, Lott criticizes the new legislation, arguing that it could have better contributed to children’s health by eliminating flavored milks from school menus, as they add unnecessary sugars to children’s diets. Such a measure would be supported by more robust evidence, she contends.
