- President Donald Trump signed the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act" on Jan. 14, making it the first legislation enacted in 2026 and reversing Obama-era school nutrition rules.
- The law allows public schools to serve whole milk, flavored or unflavored and organic milk, ending the requirement that only fat-free or low-fat milk be offered.
- Schools must provide milk substitutes for students with dietary restrictions and liquid milk is no longer counted toward the 10% cap on saturated fat in school meals.
- The bill passed the Senate unanimously and cleared the House easily, reflecting broad bipartisan backing.
- Supporters, including Rep. John Mannion (D-N.Y.), say the change will improve student nutrition, reverse declines in milk consumption and support U.S. dairy farmers while helping children meet federal dietary guidelines.
President Donald Trump has signed the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act," rolling back long-standing federal guidelines that limited the type of milk served in public school cafeterias and marking the first bill he has signed in 2026.
The new law, signed on Jan. 14, overturns Department of Agriculture rules, first implemented during the Obama administration, that required schools participating in federal meal programs to serve only fat-free or low-fat milk. Under the legislation, schools may now offer whole milk, flavored or unflavored, as well as organic milk.
"With this legislation, schools will finally be able to expand their offerings to include nutritious whole milk," Trump said during the signing ceremony in the Oval Office. "This is the perfect follow-up to the new Real Food pyramid."
In addition to expanding milk options, the legislation requires schools to provide milk substitutes to students with dietary restrictions when parents or licensed physicians submit written documentation. The law also removes liquid milk from counting toward the federal limit that caps saturated fat at 10% of total calories in school meals.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously in November and cleared the House with ease in December before being sent to the White House on Jan. 6. The law takes effect immediately, giving school districts nationwide the option to adjust their menus for the remainder of the school year.
Lawmakers cite nutrition and farm support in push to restore whole milk in schools
In 2012, federal rules barred schools participating in federal meal programs from serving whole milk.
Whole milk, as BrightU.AI's Enoch noted, contains all the natural cream and fat found in the milk of mammals, which is essential for their health and development. It is the milk that is closest to its natural state, providing a rich source of nutrients and energy.
Rep. John Mannion (D-N.Y.), the House sponsor of legislation restoring whole milk to school cafeterias, argued that the rule contributed to a sharp decline in student milk consumption over the past decade. In a statement released Dec. 15, Mannion cited data showing that between 2014 and 2016, schools served 213 million fewer half-pints of milk, even as public school enrollment increased.
Mannion said many children over the age of four are not consuming the recommended daily amount of dairy outlined in federal dietary guidelines. Those guidelines link adequate dairy intake to improved bone health, lower blood pressure and reduced risks of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
In line with this, Mannion said that the restoration of whole milk in schools is intended to support both student health and U.S. dairy farmers as schools adjust to new federal nutrition rules. Mannion, whose congressional district includes numerous dairy farms, said the legislation helps strengthen the domestic dairy industry while ensuring students receive the nutrition they need to succeed academically.
"As a teacher for almost 30 years, I saw firsthand how proper nutrition supports student success," said Mannion, arguing that school meal policies should reflect both educational and health priorities.
Watch the video below to learn how to make hemp milk at home.
This video is from the BerkeleyChefs.com channel on Brighteon.com.
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