March 5, 2003

The nation's dairy producers and processors are asking Congress to bolster the role of milk in school feeding programs, arguing that children's health and nutritional needs can be best met through an enhanced role for milk in America's schools. That message was delivered by Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, whose testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee was given on behalf of NMPF and the International Dairy Foods Association regarding the reauthorization of school feeding programs. The Child Nutrition Act is under review by Congress, and that statute - which regulates federal programs that serve breakfast and lunch in schools - must be reauthorized this year.

E. Linwood Tipton, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, commented before the hearing on the interest that school districts, nutritionists and health professionals, and state and federal government bodies have had in providing milk in more ways in America's schools. "We've seen tremendous interest in new milk vending machines in schools, and in new flavors and packaging to make milk appealing to kids and teens. And the government's 'milk matters' program out of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has for several years underlined the critical need for kids and teens to be drinking more milk."

Kozak told the Senate panel that child nutrition programs "represent a national commitment to offer our young people healthful choices and a fair start toward lifelong good nutrition. Milk is a central part of this commitment and is an unparalleled source of affordable nutrients," he said. "We must strengthen child nutrition programs across the board - and also enhance the role of milk in assuring that the programs succeed."

In order to enhance milk's role in federal nutrition programs, Kozak said that NMPF and IDFA believe that "additional budgetary resources for these programs are justified, and should be sought." He noted that program resources have not fully kept up with inflation over time.

"For many schools in many parts of the U.S., the cost of serving a school lunch exceeds the $2.14 maximum reimbursement rate. Since most school food service programs must be self-sustaining, a federal reimbursement rate that fails to meet per-meal costs will encourage schools to place more emphasis on generating additional revenues through sales of other foods and beverages which, unlike school meals, need not comply with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans."

The two groups said that "if more adequate budgetary resources permitted schools the flexibility to innovate, they might be able to attract more participants in the school meal programs." They noted that participation in the lunch program "has been stagnant or declining," due largely to competition from vending machines and other food sources.

NMPF and IDFA also reminded the Senate panel that if milk consumption is improved in schools, there are "profound and immediate nutritional benefits to our children" - as well as longer-term benefits. He said that if students have a positive experience of drinking milk in school, they are more likely to remain milk drinkers throughout life. Higher-quality milk products in schools mean kids will be more likely to choose milk outside school. High-quality and attractive milk products in schools also will help build the image and sales potential of new, innovative milk products. And higher-quality, more-attractive milk can help build participation in school meal programs, increasing children's consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy foods.

According to the two organizations, milk and dairy products account for 72% of the calcium, 32% of the phosphorus, 26% of the riboflavin, 22% of the vitamin B-12, 19% of the protein, 16% of the magnesium and 15% of the vitamin A available in the U.S. food supply. Moreover, he said that "few of our young people are getting enough calcium. According to USDA, among children 6-11 years old, 71% of the girls and 62% of the boys fail to meet calcium recommendations. These figures rise to even more alarming levels among adolescents 12-19 years old, with 88% of females and 68% of males not meeting the recommendations."

NMPF and IDFA suggested four ways for the Senate Agriculture Committee to enhance the role of dairy products, especially in school meal programs, as part of Congress's reauthorization of federal nutrition programs:

--Congress should seek to increase school milk consumption with higher meal reimbursement rates or other incentives to schools by using model standards and specifications that may include, but are not limited to, increased standard serving size for middle and upper level schools, packaging, flavor variety, merchandising, refrigeration, and handling practices.

--Congress should provide expanded opportunities for commercially branded milk to be made available to children at an increased number of venues throughout the school environment, including availability in immediate physical proximity to the milk offered as part of a reimbursable meal.

--Congress should reject attacks on milk's role in child nutrition programs, and turn back any efforts to repeal the statutory requirement for milk to be offered in school meals; any attempts to prohibit schools from offering certain types of milk; and any proposals to otherwise compromise the integrity of milk's critical role in the programs.

--And Congress should assure through legislation that schools may permit milk to be offered anytime, anywhere on school premises and at school events. Kozak said the four points are NMPF's and IDFA's mutually agreed-on principles as their priorities in reauthorization legislation.