Students across New York may soon see whole and reduced-fat milk back on cafeteria menus, thanks to a new bill passed by the U.S. Senate with strong bipartisan support.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 allows schools to offer both flavored and unflavored whole and reduced-fat milk—options that haven’t been permitted under federal school meal rules since 2012. Supporters say the change will benefit both children’s health and Upstate New York’s dairy economy.
Senator Chuck Schumer called the bill a win-win. He pointed to studies showing milk can improve bone health and reduce the risk of conditions like high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Whole milk, once discouraged in school cafeterias, is now being re-evaluated in light of new research suggesting it may help combat childhood obesity.
The bill’s passage is also a boost for New York’s nearly 3,000 dairy farms, which produce over 16 billion pounds of milk each year. Schumer has long backed policies aimed at supporting the state’s dairy industry—from price support programs to pushing for Greek yogurt in school lunches.
The legislation is expected to increase milk consumption among students by offering more variety, while reinforcing milk’s value as a key source of calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients many children don’t get enough of.
The full text of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is available here.
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