Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Signed Into Law
January 14, 2026
*This Law only applies to the National School Lunch Program. It does not implement any changes to the milk requirements for CACFP, SFSP or the School Breakfast Program.
**NCA will monitor for any changes to the CACFP. Please read this blog for possible future changes to the CACFP.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was signed by the President and passed into law on January 14, 2026. This bill updates the milk requirements for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to allow the service of whole and reduced-fat milk, which was previously unallowable. The primary changes include:
- Allowing schools to serve whole and reduced-fat milk at lunch.
- Excludes fluid milk from the saturated fat content calculations for schools.
- Note that it is now an option for schools to offer these types of milk, but not a requirement.
- Allowing the service of organic or nonorganic milk options
- Allowing parents and legal guardians to provide written statements for milk substitutions for disability reasons, which previously required a written medical statement from a licensed healthcare professional or registered dietitian.
Why It Matters
Previously, the law governing the National School Lunch Program, CACFP and SFSP only required that milk provided through these programs be consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Now, the section outlining milk requirements for NSLP explicitly states that schools participating in the school lunch program “may offer students flavored and unflavored organic or non-organic whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free fluid milk and lactose-free fluid milk.”
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act only makes updates to the NSLP section of the law and does not make any changes to other child nutrition programs, such as the CACFP or SFSP. However, the law that guides the CACFP only requires that milk provided in the CACFP is “in accordance with the most recent Dietary Guidelines,” for Americans. In early January, the 2025-2030 DGAs were released, which recommend the inclusion of full-fat dairy as part of a healthy dietary pattern.
In a press release, USDA shared that they will begin a proposed rulemaking to, “ensure schools and nutrition programs can begin offering whole milk as quickly as possible.” It is important to note that the press release mentions updates to nutrition programs outside of schools as well. Therefore, it is possible we will see a proposed rule that suggests the service of whole and reduced-fat milk in CACFP and/or SFSP as well.
USDA has already released program implementation guidance for schools to immediately begin implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This implementation guidance is explicitly for the NSLP and does not include the School Breakfast Program (SBP) or other child nutrition programs. Schools that operate SBP or CACFP ARAS should continue to follow current guidelines for those meals, which do not allow whole or reduced-fat milks. Within the guidance memo, USDA states that they are also “considering updates to regulations through the rulemaking process,” to align program requirements with the 2025-2030 DGAs.
NCA will continue to check for additional guidance from USDA and monitor the proposed rulemaking process. As we learn more, we will communicate any new information to our community.
Contact policy@cacfp.org with any questions.