On January 14, 2026, President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This law lets schools in the National School Lunch Program offer whole and 2% milk along with low-fat and fat-free options for the first time in more than ten years. In 2025, Congress passed this bipartisan bill with no opposition. It undoes rules from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that were meant to lower childhood obesity by only allowing low-fat milk. The change is in line with the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines, which now say that full-fat dairy without added sugars is okay and recommend three servings a day in a 2,000-calorie diet.
Schools can now offer whole milk (3–3.25% fat), reduced-fat (2%), low-fat (1%), fat-free, lactose-free, flavored or unflavored, organic or non-organic milk, as well as non-dairy alternatives that are just as nutritious for people with dietary needs. Fluid milk fat won’t count toward the USDA’s saturated fat limits, so schools will have more freedom while still keeping the overall saturated fat guidelines below 10% of calories. Parents who want non-dairy options for medical reasons must send in notes.
Supporters point out that whole milk has 13 important nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and magnesium, that help bones stay healthy, the immune system work, and kids grow. These nutrients may also lower the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in kids. The fat helps the body absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K, which could make kids drink more milk and waste less food because they like tastier kinds. The American Heart Association and other critics say that low-fat foods are better for heart health and that there isn’t much evidence that whole milk is better at preventing obesity.
The push comes from studies that show kids often throw away low-fat milk, which means they miss out on important nutrients. The new guidelines are based on new information about the benefits of full-fat dairy for kids ages 2 to 5. The plan is to put it into action right away to get more kids to eat school meals without changing the general advice about saturated fat.
