Published: yesterday
" On January 14, 2026, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was signed into law, providing new milk options and service flexibilities in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), including options for schools to serve whole milk, 2% milk, and nutritionally equivalent non-dairy beverages, and exemptions for calculating saturated fats in fluid milk.
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On January 14, 2026, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was signed into law, providing new milk options and service flexibilities in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This law modifies National School Lunch Act language that pertains only to lunches served in NSLP and does not apply to breakfasts served in the School Breakfast Program or snacks/meals served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. TDA is awaiting further guidance about future rulemaking and application to other nutrition programs.
Note also that the following flexibilities are not requirements, and School Food Authorities (SFAs) may continue to operate under the previous, more restrictive regulations if they choose.
Under this law, effective immediately:
- SFAs can serve both whole and 2% milk in addition to 1% and fat-free milk for meals claimed in NSLP.
- Schools can also serve non-dairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk (for example, soy milk or other plant-based milk).
- If an SFA chooses to offer nutritionally equivalent non-dairy beverages to all students, the SFA is no longer required to notify the State agency, and students who request a fluid milk substitute for a non-disability reason are no longer required to submit a written statement requesting a nutritionally equivalent fluid milk substitute; however,
- If an SFA chooses not to offer non-dairy beverages to all students, the process for requesting a fluid milk substitute for a non-disability reason and reporting to TDA is unchanged.
- Fluid milk may be unflavored or flavored and nonorganic or organic, provided that unflavored milk is offered at each meal service and that flavored milk does not exceed the added sugars limit.
- Schools may exclude the saturated fat from fluid milk only when calculating the weekly average saturated fat requirement for lunch. All other dietary specifications (including calories, sodium, and, beginning July 1, 2027, added sugars) still apply to the entire reimbursable meal, and the contribution from fluid milk must be included in those calculations.
- For students requiring a non-dairy fluid milk substitution due to a disability, schools can now accommodate that request based on a written statement provided by a parent or legal guardian.
For more information, refer to USDA Memo SP 01-2026, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 – Implementation Requirements for the National School Lunch Program.
Guidance will be updated in the next ARM update, and all training and resources will be updated soon.
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