This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Dairy Foods logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Dairy Foods logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Print Edition
    • Digital Edition
    • Dairy Product Innovations Newsletter
    • Columnists
    • Archives
    • Dairy 100
    • State of the Industry Report
    • Supplier News
    • Processor News
    • Featured Product Advertisement
    • Editorial Calendar
  • Products
    • Best of ...
    • Butter
    • Cheese
    • Cultured Dairy
    • Frozen Desserts
    • Ice Cream/Novelties
    • Milk
    • New Products
    • Non-Dairy Beverages
    • Sales Data
    • Whey, Milk Powder
    • Dairy Alternatives
    • Submit Your Product
  • Ingredients
    • Cocoa
    • Colors/Flavors
    • Cultures/Enzymes
    • Fiber
    • Inclusions
    • Omegas/Lipids
    • Prebiotics
    • Probiotics
    • Sweeteners
    • Texturants
    • Other
  • Operations
    • Equipment
    • Processing
    • Packaging
    • Food Safety
  • Web Exclusives
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Blogs
    • Case Studies
    • Dairy Foods TV
    • Digital Brochures
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Directories
    • Buyers Guide
    • Dairy Plants USA
    • Take a Tour
  • Awards
    • Breakthrough Award
    • Exporter of the Year
    • Plant of the Year Award
  • More
    • Associations
    • Calendar of Events
    • Classifieds
    • Market Research
    • Dairy Foods Store
    • FISA Distributor Guide
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Tradeshow and Events
    • Dairy Facts & Stats
    • eBooks
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
    • Dairy Product Innovations eNewsletter
    • Online Registration
    • Subscription Customer Service
    • Connect with Dairy Foods
Home » USDA Sets Standards for Milk Substitutes in School Meals
Dairy Processor News

USDA Sets Standards for Milk Substitutes in School Meals

September 16, 2008
Reprints
No Comments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week released its final rule on guidelines for which beverages that can be considered a substitute for milk in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

In its standards on milk substitutes in school meals, USDA said other beverages must meet the nutritional value of milk. “This is an important win for the milk industry because it recognizes the important nutritional contributions of milk beyond calcium,” said Michelle Matto, IDFA assistant director of nutrition and labeling. “IDFA strongly advocated for this requirement of nutritional equivalence.”

Beverages that could substitute for fluid milk, such as soy beverage or fruit juice, will be required to be nutritionally equivalent to whole milk with regard to calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, riboflavin and vitamin B-12 content. Currently there are no soy beverages that provide all of these nutrients at the same level as milk.

In addition to setting nutritional standards for the substitutes, the final rule also defined the process for requesting a substitute for fluid milk. For a student to be eligible to receive a substitute beverage at school, the child must have a disability, medical need or special dietary need that does not allow him or her to drink milk. For a disabled child, this need must be declared through a doctor’s note. For a non-disabled child, a written request for the substitute must be made by a medical authority or the child’s parent. In addition, the school must notify its state agency if it plans to offer substitute beverages for non-disabled children.

USDA also made statements that supported lactose-free milk as the beverage of choice for lactose intolerant children, although it was not included as part of the regulations. Lactose-free milk already is allowed in the school meal programs, and documentation is not required for a student to receive lactose-free milk instead of regular milk. USDA indicated that “there is no need to offer a fortified milk substitute to a student whose medical or special dietary need is lactose intolerance.”

The rule goes into effect Oct. 14.

For more information, contact Michelle Matto at mmatto@idfa.org or 202/737-4332. To read the final rule, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21293.pdf.

 

subscribe to dairy foods

Related Articles

Chobani announces expansion of USDA pilot program for Greek yogurt in schools

Dairy organizations support legislation allowing whole milk in school meals

USDA's new school menu favors dairy foods

Milk Consumption in Schools Negatively Impacted when Schools Limit or Eliminate Flavored Milk

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • Dairy Product Innovations eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Connect with Dairy Foods

More Videos

Popular Stories

Saputo Inc. is our Processor of the Year

2019 Processor of the Year: Saputo Inc., a giant in more ways than one

2019 State of the Industry: Ice cream and frozen novelties are hot and cold

2019 State of the Industry: Ice cream and frozen novelties are hot and cold

dairy foods news

Industry groups react to Dean Foods’ Chapter 11 announcement

2019 State of the Industry: Butter wins a combination ticket

2019 State of the Industry: Butter wins a combination ticket

Borden premium eggnog

Houston residents start petition to bring back Borden’s Premium eggnog

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

ESL Technologies

Dairy beverage producers: Where does your company stand when it comes to extended-shelf-life (ESL) technologies?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Tharp & Young on Ice Cream: An Encyclopedic Guide to Ice Cream Science and Technology

Tharp & Young on Ice Cream: An Encyclopedic Guide to Ice Cream Science and Technology

An at once an all-inclusive guide to the meaning of hundreds of technical terms and ideas needed for ice cream manufacturing, as well as a practical introduction to the ingredients, freezing methods, flavoring, and packaging of ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, gelato, frozen yogurts, novelties and many other kinds of frozen desserts.

See More Products

best new dairy products 2019

Dairy Foods Magazine

dairy foods december 2019

2019 December

Check out the December issue of Dairy Foods, including our profile of our Processor of the Year: Saputo.
View More Create Account
  • More
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Staff
    • Order Reprints
    • List Rental
    • Food & Beverage Brands
    • Newsletter
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Want More?
    • Privacy Policy
    • Survey And Sample
  • Helpful Links
    • Dairy 100 List
    • Dairy Plants USA Database
    • Dairy Prices
    • Interstate Milk Shippers List
    • Milk Pasteurization: The Effects of Time and Temperature
    • National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments
    • Pasteurized Milk Ordinance
    • Standards of Identity for Dairy Products
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Galleries
    • Periodic Table of Dairy Foods
    • Monthly Poll Question
    • Dairy Facts & Stats
  • Exclusives
    • Best of 2014
    • Best of 2013
    • First Half Favorites: 2013
    • Best of 2012
    • 2016 Dairy 100
    • 2015 Dairy 100
    • 2014 Dairy 100
    • 2013 Dairy 100
    • Dairy 100 Articles
    • 2016 State of the Industry Report
    • 2015 State of the Industry Report
    • 2014 State of the Industry Report
    • 2013 State of the Industry Report
  • Advertise
    • Monthly Promos

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing