Is chocolate milk getting banned in schools? Details explored

Long been part of children's meals in schools across the country, chocolate milk and other flavored milk could soon be banned in schools. The move comes as the result of the recent proposal announced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which seeks to "reduce exposure to added sugars and promote more nutrient-dense choice of unflavored milk for young children when their tastes are being formed."

If passed, the proposal could lead to the elimination of chocolate and strawberry-flavored milk in elementary and middle schools, while the flavored milk may end up limited only to high schools across the country. The proposal which has been open for comments since February has received more than 90,000 comments from parents and professionals both in support and against the proposal.

USDA considering a ban on chocolate milk in schools across the country (Image via WS Studio/ Getty Images)

As per New England Dairy, which represents local dairy producers, flavored milk like strawberry and chocolate milk are not only loved by children, but they are also packed with "Calcium, Vitamin D, and potassium." While it can not be denied that flavored milk is crucial for fulfilling everyday nutrition requirements for children, the high amounts of sugar in flavored milk have often been questioned by health professionals across the country.

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USDA is yet to decide about the proposed ban on chocolate milk in schools

Earlier at the beginning of 2023, the USDA had proposed new nutrition standards for school meals, which include specified limits on added sugar and sodium in meals given to children across the country. The initiative was focused on making school meals more nutritious for growing children while decreasing the number of on-rise chronic, and diet-related diseases such as - obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other problems that often catch up to adulthood.

Flavored milk being one of the major sources of sugar in school meals has been under scrutiny ever since the beginning. According to Cindy Long, administrator of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.

"Flavored milk is a challenging issue to figure out exactly the best path forward. We really do want to encourage children to consume milk and we also recognize the need to reduce added-sugar consumption."

Considering how the USDA proposal highlights the concerns of high sugar content in chocolate milk, strawberry, and other flavored milk, the International Dairy Foods Association, last month, announced a "Healthy School Milk Commitment." The commitment that was issued on behalf of U.S. milk processors, pledged to provide milk with less added sugar for public schools all across the country.

The USDA to make a decision on the ban of chocolate milk and other flavored milk early next year (Image via Marcus Ingram/ Getty Images)

The association also said that dairy companies will "deliver milk's 13 essential nutrients to America's students while reducing calories and added sugars in flavored milk."

While nothing is confirmed as of now, a decision on the ban is expected to be made early next year. If the proposal on the ban of chocolate milk and other flavored milk is accepted by the USDA, it could likely go into effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

If accepted, children across the country will no longer be served flavored milk for school meals, nor will they be allowed to bring it from home. Children may even have to drink 'nutrient-dense' unflavored milk instead.