School Nutrition Standards – Milk
Schools may currently offer fat-free and low-fat (1 percent fat) milk, flavored and unflavored, in reimbursable school lunches and breakfasts and for sale as a competitive beverage. Unflavored milk must be offered at each school meal service.
Fat-free and low-fat milk, flavored and unflavored, may also be offered to participants ages 6 and older in the Special Milk Program (SMP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Flavored Milk
Milk provides nutrients essential for good health and kids drink more when it’s flavored. Milk’s nutrition only helps students grow if they drink it.
Flavored Milk in Schools is Not the Same as What’s at the Store
Milk processors have worked for decades to make school flavored milk better for kids. Sugar content in school flavored milk is significantly lower than that found in grocery store chocolate milk and still tastes great! In fact, school flavored milk contributes only 4% of added sugar to children’s diets while carbonated soda and fruit drinks contribute 45% without the nutritional benefit.
