Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Advocates for Whole Milk in School Programs

Earlier this year, in an Alexandria Head Start classroom, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted his department’s efforts to put a stronger emphasis on healthy eating and well-balanced nutrition. Part of these efforts included revisiting dairy policies in schools. Specifically, Kennedy recommended shifting from low-fat dairy to full-fat milk, a challenge to the existing Dietary Guidelines.

Kennedy continued to stand firm on his resolve to prioritize whole milk. In a July announcement, the department revealed its ambitious plans to reevaluate the federal dietary guidelines for dairy products, with an expected completion date set for 2025’s end. Nationally, officials are provisioning for whole milk to be provided in schools and via one of the most prominent food assistance programs.

Reflecting on his childhood, Kennedy noted at a July press meeting: ‘Milk was considered the healthiest thing one could consume. The emerging research now points towards the need for increased protein and fats in our diet, and no industry meets this demand more efficiently than the dairy sector.’

In its initial term, the Trump administration relaxed certain Obama-era school meal regulations, thereby allowing 1% and skim flavored milks. This shift came after a period when only reduced-fat flavored milks were allowed. However, the reintroduction of whole milk to the school dietary plans is a fresh debate of its own, given that it was practically eliminated from school lunches over a decade ago.

Kennedy’s efforts to reintroduce whole milk don’t merely shape the discussion around dairy products. With child obesity rates escalating and longstanding dietary guidelines promoting reduced-fat choices, this initiative may overturn several years of established federal nutritional policies.

In 2010, the Hunger-Free Kids Act halted serving whole milk during school meals amid rising worries that excessive saturated fats and calories were leading to extensive health issues in children. Yet, the classification of whole milk as a ‘bad’ option has remained a contentious topic.

The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs presented a list of ‘Dietary Goals for the United States’ in 1977. They suggested minimizing the consumption of saturated fat, including whole milk and similar high-fat dairy items. Current guidelines and professional bodies still endorse reducing these fats, favoring low-fat dairy options.

Several influential bodies such as the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute continue to recommend low-fat dairy products. Furthermore, they – along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – suggest that children of two years and above should primarily consume low-fat or non-fat milk.

Kennedy’s support of whole milk aligns with his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ drive, aiming to end chronic diseases in children by challenging conventional dietary ways and reinforcing the necessity for transparency in quality of food and medicines. He proposes condensing the dietary guidelines to a handful of pages that emphasize the benefits of consuming whole foods, including those rich in saturated fats.

As per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), daily dietary guidelines include three cups of dairy (or lactose-free or fortified soy alternatives) for those aged nine and above, and between 1.6-2.5 cups for children aged between one to eight.

Public consumption of dairy has significantly evolved over time, and even more so in recent months. Plant-based milks, while around for centuries, gained global recognition in the 21st century due to growing concerns regarding lactose intolerance and environmental implications of dairy production. However, milk production had a surprising revival in 2024, showing an approximate 0.8 percent rise compared to the previous year. Additionally, raw milk sales, another item Kennedy strongly supports, had a boost of 20 to 65 percent from the previous year.

Alternatively, we’ve seen a growing skepticism towards ultra-processed foods and a shift towards cow’s milk, powered by inflation and the fact that cow’s milk is less expensive than plant-based alternatives. This shift in dietary choices appears to line up with conservative ideologies.

Regardless of the outcome of Kennedy’s mission, the dispute over whole milk isn’t just about children’s lunchtime drink. It is fundamentally a question of who gets to set the criteria of ‘health’ and host the power to define that term for wider society.