U.S. President Donald Trump looks at a bottle of milk during a signing ceremony for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 14, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
(New York, NY) – The White House wants everyone to start drinking whole milk again. President Trump signed legislation last week, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, reversing a ban on whole milk at schools funded through the federal lunch program. The ban dates back to the Obama White House, who implemented the new rules as an effort to combat childhood obesity. Officials with the city’s Department of Education have signaled the Big Apple has no plans to switch from 1% and skim milk.
A spokesperson for the city’s public schools said their free breakfast and lunch service is “grounded in research-based nutrition guidance” and also relies on student tastings. The new law adds whole milk to the list of suggested offerings, and also requires a plant-based alternative be available if requested by a student’s doctor or guardian. Milk was a previous focus of former Mayor Eric Adams, who said he was considering a ban on chocolate milk, citing excessive sugar contents. The ban never gained traction and city students can still choose the chocolate option.
