WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued the following statement after passage of H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which provides students greater milk choices in their school cafeteria.
“This whole milk legislation was a win all around for Wisconsinites, particularly for our farmers and students,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “Outdated government definitions have long vilified whole milk as an unhealthy drink option for students, when the reality is that milk has 13 essential nutrients that are critical for proper development. I was pleased to see this legislation passed and I look forward to putting whole milk back in our school cafeterias.”
BACKGROUND: Several recent studies examining the effect of higher fat milk consumption found that it was associated with lower childhood obesity and concluded that dietary guidelines that recommend reduced-fat milk versions might not lower the risk of childhood obesity. Higher consumption of full-fat dairy has been shown to be associated with lower risk of total body fat mass in children and increases satiety in students.