This bill allows schools in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk and reduced-fat milk in addition to currently permitted low-fat and fat-free options. It also exempts milk fat from saturated fat calculations in school meal nutrition requirements and allows parents to request milk substitutes for children with dietary restrictions.
Latest Action
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill allows schools in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk and reduced-fat milk in addition to currently permitted low-fat and fat-free options. It also exempts milk fat from saturated fat calculations in school meal nutrition requirements and allows parents to request milk substitutes for children with dietary restrictions.
Last updated: 1/6/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA).</p><p>Currently, schools participating in the program must provide milk that is consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans; USDA regulations require milk to be fat-free or low-fat and allow milk to be flavored or unflavored. The bill modifies these restrictions and instead permits schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. The milk that is offered may be organic or nonorganic.</p><p>Further, schools currently must provide a substitute for fluid milk, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician, for students whose disability restricts their diet. Under the bill, a parent or legal guardian may also provide the written statement.</p><p>In addition, schools currently participating in the program must provide meals that meet certain nutrition requirements; USDA regulations require that the average saturated fat content of the meals offered must be less than 10% of the total calories. Under the bill, fluid milk is excluded from the saturated fat content calculation; milk fat included in any fluid milk provided by the program must not be considered saturated fat for the purposes of measuring compliance with USDA regulations.</p><p></p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Permits whole milk and reduced-fat milk in school lunch programs
Allows flavored and unflavored milk of all fat levels
Exempts milk fat from saturated fat compliance calculations
Lets parents request milk substitutes without physician note
Permits both organic and nonorganic milk options
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Students would have more milk choices at school, including whole milk. Parents could request milk alternatives more easily for children with dietary needs. Schools would have more flexibility in menu planning without milk fat counting against nutrition limits.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Related Subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Department of Agriculture
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Nutrition and diet
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
222, 119th Congress (2025). "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-222
