Whole milk returns to school cafeterias after Trump signs law as experts tout its benefits

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, a law that returns whole milk and 2% milk to schools.

Obama-era USDA school feeding rules, under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, previously banned whole milk, requiring schools to only offer fat-free, low-fat, flavored or unflavored milk options.

“With this legislation, schools will finally be able to expand their offerings to include nutritious whole milk,” the president said during the signing. “This is the perfect continuation of the new royal food pyramid.”

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The bill also allows parents to request milk substitutes, whereas previously a written statement from a doctor was required.

“We are eliminating that pretty ridiculous policy, allowing parents to choose what is best for their children, which is a big step,” Trump added.

The change comes a week after the launch of the inverted food pyramid, part of the Make America Healthy Again movement’s proactive approach to health.

At the signing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said President Trump has ended the war on saturated fats that have taken over school menus, “despite science [has] “Whole milk has never been shown to harm children.”

“The variety of nutrients in whole milk is critical to our children’s brain and physical development,” Kennedy said.

The secretary linked the rise in childhood obesity and diabetes to the removal of whole milk from schools over the past 15 years.

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A 2020 study by professors at the University of Toronto, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found an association between higher cow’s milk fat consumption and lower levels of body fat in children aged 1 to 18 years.

Dr. Neha Pathak, WebMD medical editor-in-chief and former medical leader in Atlanta, told News Digital that different types of milk vary primarily based on the amount of fat they contain.

“As you reduce the percentage of milk fat, you generally get fewer calories and less saturated fat, while protein and calcium stay similar,” Pathak said.

Certain vitamins, such as vitamin D, are typically added back through fortification, he noted.

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Addressing the rise of plant-based milks, Pathak said their protein content is usually lower than that of cow’s milk.

“Whole milk is a high-quality protein.”

The exception would be soy and pea milk, which can have protein levels comparable to dairy, he added.

Dr. Ben Carson, USDA national nutrition, health and housing advisor, told News Digital that whole milk helps support brain development.

“Children’s brains are growing very quickly and milk provides healthy fats that are essential for brain development,” Carson said.

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“Whole milk is a high-quality protein that helps children have strong bones and teeth thanks to its vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus content.”

News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told News Digital that while whole milk may not have less sugar than low-fat or fat-free milk, there are many other benefits.

“[Whole milk] offer[s] more protein, calcium, vitamin D and minerals that are good for you and promote satiety, which can prevent you from overeating,” the doctor said.

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“You can also decrease the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome and avoid other addictive substances.”