REPORT: U.S. House passes 'Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act;' local Agriculture official weighs in

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the 'Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act,' essentially overturning an Obama era law back in 2010 that barred whole milk products from school cafeterias around the country.

Passing 330 to 99 on December 14, the bill's fate now rests in the hands of the U.S. Senate, as they will re-convene after the new year. If passed there, the measure will be sent to the office of U.S. President Joe Biden.

"We've been trying since back in 2010 to re-instate it," said Ben Simons. He is a local dairy farmer and figure of agriculture in Oneida County.

Whole milk products were banned during the Obama era in efforts to reduce child obesity and offer low fat options instead with federally subsidized lunches. "When you skim down the milk, that means us farmers make less of it," Simons explained.

"In other words, the manufacturer will use less of the whole milk because they skimmed it down to make other products. At the same time they're skimming it down, they're also taking away some of the important nutrients and the flavor."  

Ben Simons image.

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New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets image.