July 2017 Volume: 3 Issue: 7
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NMPF Board of Directors Supports NAFTA Modernization
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The dairy community was excited about a recent announcement to allow 1% flavored milk in school meals. Currently schools can only serve fat free (skim) flavored milk although unflavored milk can be offered in both fat free and 1% options.
Each state is allowed to decide how the new ruling is applied in the upcoming school year. The challenge is that schools have already solidified their contracts with dairy processors. Contracts have been signed and prices/costs agreed on for the 2017-18 school year. For example, processors have already printed the ½ pint milk cartons for fat free flavored milk based on their agreements with schools.
Your Midwest Dairy Council staff members are working with decision makers at the Department of Education in all of our states as well as processors that provide milk to schools to help them finesse the new rule.
At this time the state food authority in the Department of Education in Nebraska will not apply for the exemption to allow. A representative from the state office has shared they have not received requests from school nutrition departments and cited processor challenges to have 1% flavored milk available for schools.
We encourage everyone to talk with their local school districts about the milk they currently offer to students and their plans for future school years. This blog post on the role of milk in school meals provides excellent insights. For additional information, use the National Dairy Council report Fluid Milk in School Meal Programs.
School meals are designed to help meet the nutritional needs of children as well as teach healthy eating habits. Offering 1% flavored milk as an option to students delivers on these fundamental goals of the school meal program and aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans advice to select fat free and low fat dairy at least 3 times each day.
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