The federal child nutrition programmes include the National School Lunch Programme, School Breakfast Programme, Special Supplemental Programme for Women Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Child and Adult Care Food Programme.
“This legislation recognises the nutritional importance of dairy products for school-age children and ensures that schools offer low-fat and non-fat milk varieties to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said IDFA president and CEO Connie Tipton. “In addition, the bill mandates consistent nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold or provided in schools.”
The legislation will give the Department of Agriculture authority to set nutrition standards for beverages sold in a la carte lines and vending machines in schools.
In Senate testimony in 2009, the IDFA urged legislators to establish consistent nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available in schools and to assure the standards are grounded in the Dietary Guidelines.
Because milk is an excellent source of nine essential nutrients and vitamins, the Dietary Guidelines recommend that children aged 9-18 consume three servings a day of low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products, including yogurt and cheese. Milk consumption per capita is declining, particularly among middle and high school-age children.
The USDA reports that most American children fail to meet the recommended dairy servings. The government also reports that only 5% of girls and 25% of boys ages 9-13 get the calcium they need.
Source: IDFA
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