President Donald Trump has signed a new law about school milk. It is called the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. He signed it on January 14, 2026. This law lets schools offer whole milk and 2% milk again. This changes a rule from over ten years ago that only allowed skim and 1% milk. The President says this is part of making America healthy again. It gives more choice and brings back full-fat milk.
The Legislative Action: Reversing the Obama-Era Mandate
The signing happened in the Oval Office. It ends a rule from President Obama’s time. That old rule, from 2010, wanted to fight child obesity by cutting saturated fat. So since 2012, schools could only give out skim or 1% milk.
President Trump was with two of his secretaries. They said the new law gives “flexibility” back to schools. The law changes the old rules for the National School Lunch Program. Now schools can offer whole or 2% milk, flavored or plain. People who supported this change said kids were not drinking the low-fat milk. This caused a lot of waste and kids missed out on good nutrients.
Reasoning Behind the Shift: A New Nutritional Philosophy
The reason for the change is new thinking about fat. The old rule saw fat as a main cause of weight gain. The new rule follows the latest Dietary Guidelines. It focuses on “whole foods.”
One Secretary called this a “long-overdue correction.” He said research shows the fat in whole milk can help kids feel full. This might stop them from eating too many sugary snacks. Also, the law has a technical change. It says milk fat does not count toward the limit on saturated fat in school meals. This makes it easier for schools to serve whole milk.
Impact on School Nutrition Programs and Daily Menus
The National School Lunch Program feeds about 30 million kids every day. The first thing people will see is more kinds of milk in the cooler. Schools do not have to serve whole milk, but now they can if they want to. Key Changes for School Cafeterias:
- More Milk Choices: Schools can now offer whole, 2%, 1%, and skim milk. It can be flavored or plain.
- Easier Nondairy Milk: It is now easier for a child to get nondairy milk, like soy milk. Parents just need to write a note. Before, they needed a doctor’s note.
- Local Control: Local schools and cafeteria managers will decide what milk to buy. They will think about what kids like and what the school can afford.
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The Broader Context of Child Nutrition and the Dairy Industry
This new law is also good for the dairy industry. Dairy groups are very happy. They say it is a “commonsense” solution that helps farmers. School meals are about 7.5% of all milk sales in America. Letting schools sell whole milk again should help dairy farmers in many states.
School food is a big topic for national health. Some health experts still worry about more saturated fat. But the people who support the bill say the most important thing is that kids will drink the milk. If kids drink it, they get important nutrients like Calcium, Vitamin D, and Potassium.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will whole milk be in my child’s school?
Schools can start right away, in January 2026. But many schools will probably wait until the new school year in 2026-2027 to change their milk orders.
Does this law remove low-fat milk options?
No. The law only adds more options. Schools must still offer at least two types of milk. Skim and low-fat milk will still be there for people who want them.
Is flavored whole milk (like chocolate) allowed?
Yes. But flavored milk must still follow rules on added sugar. These sugar rules will become stricter in July 2027.
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources. Readers should cross-check updates from official news outlets.