THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 Office of P-20 Education Policy |
Effective for the 2012-2013 school year, schools participating in the Special Milk Program should only be providing fat-free (skim) milk or low-fat (one percent) milk to students. Neither, whole milk, nor two percent milk, should be available. This change in policy by USDA is to ensure that the milk offerings in the Special Milk Program are consistent with those of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program required by the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010. The goal is to reduce childhood obesity.
If your school chooses to offer flavored milk, the USDA recommends it be flavored fat-free milk.
Schools participating in the Special Milk Program should notify their dairies immediately of these changes in order to be in compliance for 2012-2013.
Attached are Questions and Answers regarding the Special Milk Program. Any questions on this policy should be directed to a Child Nutrition Representative at 518-473-8781.