Bill Introduced To Require U.S. Schools to Provide a Substitute for Cow’s Milk

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Currently, the National School Lunch Act does not require schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program to provide a non-dairy substitute for dairy milk unless the child has a disability (documented by a licensed physician) that restricts the student’s diet. Schools can choose to provide a non-dairy substitute if the student’s parent or legal guardian or a medical authority provides a written statement that identifies the medical or other special dietary need for a non-dairy substitute. Unless the student has a specific disability, documented by a licensed physician, that requires avoidance of cow’s milk, the school is not required to provide a replacement beverage.

Representative Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) has introduced H.R. 1539 (see: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr1539/BILLS-118hr1539ih.pdf) which would amend the National School Lunch Act to require schools to provide fluid milk substitutes upon the request of a student or the parent or guardian. The fluid milk substitute would need to meet nutritional standards so that its composition was similar to dairy milk. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in March 2023.

To read more about school meals see:

School Lunch and Milk Substitutes

The Vegetarian Resource Group Testimony Submitted to USDA on Proposed Revisions to Child Nutrition Programs (including school lunch)

Getting Vegan Food into Schools

Vegan Options in a California School

Vegan Options in Portland, ME School Lunch

Tempeh in School Meals