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General Information | USDA
School Meal Initiative Audits | NSLP
Funding | Nutritional Requirements
| Commodity and Bonus Foods | Cow’s
Milk in School Lunch | Vegetarian
Entrées | Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Alternatives to Cow’s Milk in the National
School Lunch Program
- The National School Lunch Act requires that schools participating
in the National School Lunch Program always offer cow’s
milk.
- Generally, schools do not offer nutritious, nondairy beverages, such as fortified soymilk or rice milk. Schools have the option to provide nondairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk with a written request from a parent, legal guardian, or physician. However, schools that decide to provide these healthful alternatives are at a disadvantage; the USDA does not provide enough reimbursement for these items and the school must absorb the extra cost.
- The USDA does not require children to take or drink milk, although
it is encouraged for children in grades K through 8.
- Because of the widespread but incorrect belief that milk is
essential for good health, food service staff will often require
that elementary school children take milk. Food service staff is
taught about the value of milk by training sessions
provided by the USDA and through free “educational materials” donated by the Dairy Council.
- In high schools, the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) policy must be
used in order for meals to be reimbursable. OVS requires that
students are offered a minimum of five items but are only required
to take three. This policy was implemented to prevent the problem
of plate waste when students are forced to take food that they
do not want.
- In grades K through 8, schools may use OVS, but local school food authorities are
permitted to impose further requirements. Children in grade schools
are often pressured to take milk.
- A problem with OVS as it stands is that while children may refuse
milk, they are almost never offered a nutritious replacement.
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