As of January 14th, all U.S. students can access plant-based milk at school without a doctor’s note. This progress comes, in part, thanks to everyone who took action and urged their senators to support the amendment to S. 222, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, to expand access to dairy-free milk.
Prior to the amendment, federal school nutrition programs guaranteed access to dairy-free milk, such as soy milk, only if a parent provided a physician’s note documenting a medical disability. This meant that parents faced significant hurdles, and many children who can’t or don’t want to drink cows’ milk were left without healthier, kinder, and more sustainable options in school meals. Schools were even prohibited from proactively offering dairy-free milk on lunch lines.
We’re disappointed that the same legislation also allows whole milk back into school meals, despite concerns about saturated fat and the harms of industrial dairy. Still, expanded access to plant-based milk is meaningful progress, especially for students who can’t or don’t want to drink cow’s milk for health, ethical, or religious reasons.
What students need to know:
- No doctor’s note is required to access plant-based milk under the updated policy.
- If a school offers plant-based milk as a standard option, no note of any kind is needed.
- If a school does not offer it broadly, a parent or guardian note (not a medical note) might be needed.
- Plant-based milk must still meet USDA nutrition standards.
- According to the USDA, the changes are effective immediately, but some schools may take weeks or months to phase them in.
Curious about going dairy-free? Grab our free 14-Day Dairy-Free Detox Guide for simple swaps and easy tips.
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