William Thiele

For more than a decade, milk cartons in school cafeterias have told a quiet story about how national nutrition policy filters down to local lunch trays.

In Butler County, like much of the country, students have grown up with skim and low-fat milk as the default option, while whole milk has largely disappeared from schools.

Now, with the recently signed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, we are reopening the conversation — and local school districts should be ready to welcome whole milk back.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would allow schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve whole and 2% milk again, reversing restrictions put in place in the wake of the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Those earlier rules were well intentioned, aiming to reduce saturated fat intake and address childhood obesity. But fact-based science and real-world experience in school cafeterias has evolved since then.

First, there is growing evidence that whole milk is not the dietary villain it was once made out to be. Multiple studies over the past decade have found that children who consume whole milk are no more likely — and in some cases less likely — to be overweight than those who drink reduced-fat milk. Fat is not just a calorie source. It plays a critical role in brain development, hormone production and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. For growing children, especially younger students, these nutrients matter.

Second, we should talk honestly about what actually happens in cafeterias. Ask any food service director and they will tell you: kids are far more likely to drink whole milk than skim. When milk is unappealing, it ends up in the trash. That is not a win for health and it is certainly not a win for taxpayers who fund school meal programs, not to mention our dairy farmers in the county. Offering whole milk increases consumption of calcium, vitamin D and protein — nutrients many children already struggle to get enough of.

In Butler County, this issue is particularly relevant. Our county includes rural communities, small towns and families working hard to make ends meet. For some students, the milk they drink at school may be the most reliable source of dairy in their day. Whole milk provides more calories and nutrients per serving, which can be especially important for kids who are highly active, growing quickly or experiencing food insecurity.

There is also a local economic angle that deserves attention. Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers have faced volatile markets and rising costs for years. Allowing whole milk back into schools would support demand for fluid milk and help stabilize a sector that remains a backbone of our agricultural economy. While school nutrition policy should never be written solely for economic reasons, it is worth noting when a health-forward policy also benefits local producers.

Critics of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act often raise concerns about saturated fat and long-term heart health. Those concerns should not be dismissed — but they should be weighed against updated science and common sense. Children are not miniature adults and dietary guidance for them should reflect their unique developmental needs. Moreover, the Act does not force schools to serve whole milk exclusively. It simply restores choice. Schools could continue offering low-fat options while also making whole milk available.

Choice is the keyword here. Local school districts know their students better than Washington does. A one-size-fits-all mandate makes little sense when communities differ in culture, activity levels and nutritional needs. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act respects local decision-making by giving districts the flexibility to serve what works best for their children.

As Butler County school boards and administrators consider the future of their nutrition programs, they should look closely at this recently signed piece of legislation and make an informed decision. Bringing whole milk back is not about nostalgia or politics. It is about feeding children what they need, improving nutrient intake, reducing waste and trusting local leaders to make informed choices.

In the end, a healthy school meal is one that children will actually eat or drink. Whole milk belongs on that tray again and Butler County should be ready to lead by example.

William Thiele is a Butler County dairy farmer and director of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau District 15.