USDA Issues Final Rule Implementing Whole And 2% Milk Options In Schools

May 15, 2026

USDA has issued a final rule implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act that was signed into law in January. This will give schools the opportunity to serve whole and 2% milk–in addition to the 1%, fat-free and flavored varieties already offered–during both breakfast and lunch for the first time since 2012, when federal rules removed them.

“Offering whole and 2% milk in schools helps students meet recommended daily values for many essential nutrients. It’s logistically challenging for schools to offer this milk for lunches but not for other meals, which weakens the benefits that whole and 2% milk provide,” said National Milk Producers Federation President and Chief Executive Officer Gregg Doud.

Whole milk and other dairy products provide essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin and vitamins A, D and B12. Whole milk is especially important for young children ages 1 to 10 to support energy needs and brain development.

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Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.