PRINTER'S NO. 368
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
48
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BROOKS, VOGEL, ARGALL, COLEMAN, GEBHARD, AUMENT,
PENNYCUICK, HUTCHINSON, J. WARD, ROTHMAN, YAW, LAUGHLIN,
MARTIN, BAKER, ROBINSON, BARTOLOTTA, SCHWANK, PHILLIPS-HILL,
STEFANO, L. WILLIAMS AND LANGERHOLC, FEBRUARY 24, 2023
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 24, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Urging the United States Department of Agriculture to include 2%
and whole milk in the Nutrition Standards for the National
School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and as a Smart Snacks
option and urging the United States Department of Health and
Human Services to recommend to the Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee to modify the milk standard to include 2%
and whole milk.
WHEREAS, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of
2010 which put restrictive regulations on the consumption of
whole milk in schools; and
WHEREAS, In the first two years the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Act of 2010 was enacted, 1.2 million fewer students drank milk
with their lunch, yet still had access to sugary drinks that
offer little to no nutritional value; and
WHEREAS, Implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
of 2010 has had a negative health and nutrition impact on
children and negative economic impacts in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, According to the Team Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture Economic Impact of Agriculture in
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Pennsylvania 2021 Update, agriculture supports 1 out of every 10
jobs in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's dairy industry represents a total of
$8.3 billion in direct output with 6,100 dairy farms, which is
second in the nation, and Pennsylvania ranks 6th nationally in
dairy based on sales; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
is currently proposing updates to school meal standards to
support healthier meals for kids; and
WHEREAS, In addition to addressing nutrition standards, this
rule proposes measures to strengthen the "Buy American"
provision in the school meal programs; and
WHEREAS, The USDA expects to issue a final rule in time for
schools to plan for school year 2024-2025; and
WHEREAS, The existing milk standard permits flavored and
unflavored for all grades K-12 in only fat-free and low-fat
milks, and requires unflavored milk to be offered at each school
meal service; and
WHEREAS, The proposed standard currently being offered
consists of two options, both of which would include the new
added sugars limit for flavored milk and maintain the
requirement that unflavored milk is offered at each meal
service: Option (1) allow only unflavored milk for grades K-8
and allow flavored and unflavored for grades 9-12 or allow only
unflavored milk for grades K-5 and allow flavored and unflavored
for grades 6-12, with both proposals being effective for school
year 2025-2026, or Option (2) continue to allow flavored and
unflavored milks for all grades K-12; and
WHEREAS, Now is the time as a state legislature to encourage
an even healthier option to be considered by passing a
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resolution urging the USDA to also allow 2% and whole milk, both
flavored and unflavored, to be offered in schools (K-12); and
WHEREAS, With this change in standards, schools will have the
option of making 2% and whole milk available to students without
jeopardizing Federal funding; and
WHEREAS, Testimony offered by Jayne Sebright, Director of the
Center for Dairy Excellence, during a Senate Majority Policy
Committee public hearing in June 2021, stated that about 75% of
the milk sold in schools is in the form of flavored milk, and
only 25% is unflavored, and, milk is the best food source for
calcium, potassium and vitamin D, which many are most lacking in
their diets; and
WHEREAS, The health benefits of 2% and whole milk, whether
flavored or unflavored, well exceeds the benefits of fat-free
and low-fat milks; and
WHEREAS, We should be encouraging students to consume 2% and
whole milk rather than beverages that provide little-to-no
nutritional value; and
WHEREAS, A January 2020 New York Times article stating that
"Kids (between ages 1 and 18) who drink whole milk are 39% less
likely to become overweight than those who drink lower-fat or
skim milk"; and
WHEREAS, Whole milk contains no more than 3.5% fat, and one-
third of milk's fatty acids are Omega-3, which have been linked
to many health benefits, including improved heart and brain
health, and a lower risk of cancer. This fat is necessary in the
daily diet and energy to support cell growth. Other health
benefits of milk include improved bone health, lower blood
pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2
diabetes; and
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WHEREAS, The results of a Union City Area School District
milk choice survey concluded that offering increased milk
options would result in a 50% increase in milk consumption, a
95% reduction in milk waste, that 63.6% of the students would
chose milk more often if they had the option to choose which
milk fits their needs, that 84.7% of the students drink whole
milk at home, which is why they do not choose milk at school,
and that offering two additional milk fat options within school
meals can significantly change the amount of milk chosen,
consumed and not discarded; and
WHEREAS, The evidence is overwhelming that both 2% and whole
milk should also be offered to students in schools; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human
Services coordinates with the USDA in developing the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the United States Department of Agriculture to include 2%
and whole milk in the Nutrition Standards for the National
School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and as a Smart Snacks
option; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the United States Department of Health and Human Services
to recommend to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to
permit modifications to the standard for the inclusion of 2% and
whole milk; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the United States Department of Agriculture and the United
States Department of Health and Human Services.
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