Flavored milk, which provides the same nine essential nutrients as white milk, is popular with children; two-thirds of the milk chosen at school is flavored. Some schools have eliminated or reduced its availability to lower added sugars and calories in school meals. An observational study conducted in 51 elementary schools from seven school districts in California, Colorado and Illinois evaluated the impact of the schools' decision to eliminate or reduce access to flavored milk offered with school meals. Removing flavored milk for one to five days resulted in an average 37.4 percent decline in total milk consumption; the children purchased 26 percent less milk and threw away 11.4 percent more of the milk they purchased. Results of a modeling study conducted in one school district found that in order to replace the nutrients lost by this decline in milk consumption, three to four additional food items per week would need to be added to the menu. This resulted in additional calories and fat being consumed per week, at additional cost.
As the authors point out, many school-aged children do not meet the daily recommended intakes of dairy foods and fall short on many of the nutrients milk provides. They recommend schools look for other ways to reduce added sugar and calories in school meals.
Quann EE, Adams D. Impact on milk consumption and nutrient intakes from eliminating flavored milk in elementary schools. Nutr Today. 2013;48(3):127-134.
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