Chocolate and strawberry milk could soon be a thing of the past for millions of elementary and high school kids across the United States.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering banning the school cafeteria mainstay because of its added-sugar drinks.
But experts told DailyMail.com that this measure could do more harm than good.
“There are much bigger nutritional issues to deal with,” Carolyn Williams, PhD, RD, author of Meals that Heal and co-host of the Happy Eating Podcast, told DailyMail.com.
Chocolate and strawberry milks contain more added sugar than regular varieties, although they all contain similar amounts of calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for growth and bone health
In February, the USDA proposed updated school meal guidelines requiring districts to gradually limit the amount of sugar and salt in meals.
The rules, which mark the first time sugar has been capped in these meals, focus on cereals, yogurts, desserts and flavored milks.
With the exception of milk, the final guidelines are expected to be implemented in the next seven years, starting with the 2024-2025 school year.
The agency quoted a 2021 study published in the journal Nutrients in its rationale for targeting milk. The study found that flavored skimmed milk was the main source of added sugars in school breakfasts and lunches.
The goal is to lower the risk of childhood obesity and reduce the likelihood of developing other long-term diseases, the USDA has mention.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 14.7 million children ages 2 to 19 are obese.
However, many nutritionists are critical of the proposal.
“Yes, it has some sugar in it, but it’s also a very nutritious drink,” said Ms Williams.
For example, a school bus of chocolate milk contains 159 calories and 18.2 grams of sugar.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children ages two to 18 stick to a maximum of 25 grams per day, or six teaspoons.
From 2017 to 2018, children and young adults ages 2 to 19 consumed an average of 17 teaspoons of added sugars, according to the CDC.
Over the past 70 years, the amount of milk consumed by children and adults has steadily declined. USDA data suggests that this decline was strongest in the 2010s
However, milk, including the flavored varieties, is also packed with essential nutrients. For example, a cup of chocolate milk has 280 milligrams of calcium, or 21 percent of the total recommended daily intake. It is also rich in vitamin D and protein, all of which can help maintain bone health.
Dietitian Carolyn Williams said banning flavored milk won’t solve United States childhood obesity crisis
“Children and teenagers go through rapid periods of growth,” said Ms. Williams, making these nutrients even more important to them.
Milk is the top source of calcium for the majority of Americans, according to the USDA, though 90 percent don’t get enough dairy.
“While people may not be getting enough levels, many people don’t get close to not getting enough amounts on a daily basis,” said Ms Williams.
However, Ms Williams said eliminating flavored milk would leave only plain versions.
If kids don’t like regular milk, they’re missing out on bone-strengthening nutrients.
This applies in particular to the 21 million children who have free and discounted lunches in the US.
“For some children, breakfast and lunch may be the only two guaranteed meals a day, and if they absolutely don’t want to drink white milk, that means no milk consumption,” said Ms Williams. ‘That is not good.’
Milk consumption in the US has quickly declined in recent decades. The USDA found that the number of people drinking it has been declining for more than 70 years, and in the 2010s it declined faster than in any of the previous six decades.
“I would hate to see milk consumption drop even further,” said Mrs Williams.
Recent research has already shown how cutting out chocolate and strawberry milk could exacerbate this decline.
For example, a Study from 2019 of children in a Massachusetts school district found that when flavored milk was removed, the children were less likely to drink milk with meals than in schools where flavored milk was still offered.
Just under 57 percent of children chose regular low-fat or 1 percent milk with no flavored options in schools, while 94 percent of children chose milk in schools where they had a choice between plain and flavored.
In addition, a Study from 2017 of a small, urban New England school district found that only 52 percent of students opted for 1 percent low-fat milk at lunch, shortly after the district removed the chocolate flavor.
Two years later, however, 72 percent of students opted for milk.
Eliminated flavored milk, Ms Williams said, won’t get kids to choose low-sugar options.
However, other sugary drinks, such as fruit juices and sodas, are on the rise.
A Study from 2011 found that from 1989 to 2008, calories from sugary drinks increased by 60 percent in children ages 6 to 11, and the number of children consuming them increased from 79 percent to 91 percent.
‘The big difference is that chocolate or strawberry milk contains real nutrients. With all those other drinks, you’re really just getting a lot of empty calories,” Ms. Williams said.
Instead of eliminating flavored milk, Ms. Williams recommended focusing on lowering its overall sugar content. She also suggested adding more fruits and vegetables to school canteen menus.
“An eight-ounce carton of milk is not the cause of this obesity and health problem,” said Ms Williams.