Your kids could soon have more options in the lunchroom thanks to a bill working through the United States Congress this month. According to Wisconsin State Farm, the “Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act” was passed by the House Education and Workforce Committee on a bipartisan basis, with local Rep. Tony Wied joining six of his fellow Wisconsin House members as co-sponsors. Once signed into law, higher fat content milk like whole and two percent would return to the lunchroom for the first time since 2010 when they were removed as a part of the retooled National School Lunch Program. Currently, school districts like Sturgeon Bay sell one percent and skim milk. It was removed because it was believed that the higher fat content contributed to childhood obesity. However, research has shown that a higher fat content is needed to digest the vitamins in milk properly. Locally, UW-Madison Extension Regional Dairy Educator Aerica Bjurstrom does not think it will have a huge impact because nearly 90 percent of the milk produced in the area goes to make cheese. For the industry as a whole, only good can come from it, according to Bjurstrom.

According to Statista, fluid milk consumption dropped from 196 pounds in 2000 to 130 pounds in 2022. Thanks to a wider selection of products, Bjurstom says consumption is back on the rise.