US President Donald Trump yesterday (14 January 2026) signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, part of which includes expanding access to plant-based milk alternatives, into law.

The Act makes amendments to certain requirements for milk provided through the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP), administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

While it centres around allowing access to whole and 2% milk as a key focus, a reversal of the previous Obama-era regulations that required milk to be fat-free (skimmed) or low-fat (1%), another notable aspect is the expansion of access to plant-based milk alternatives.

Schools will now be able to serve dairy-free milk alternatives that are ‘nutritionally equivalent’ to their dairy counterparts – previously, this was only allowed on the basis that a written medical or physician’s note was provided.

Schools must offer at least two different options of fluid milk at lunch daily and all options must be pasteurised, consistent with current regulations. Milk varieties may be unflavoured or flavoured – provided that the flavoured milk does not exceed the maximum limit of 10g of added sugars per 8 fl oz of flavoured milk.

If plant-based alternatives are offered, these must include a similar level of key nutrients to cow’s milk – including at least 8g of protein – and must be fortified in accordance with FDA guidelines to ensure they contain sufficient levels of essential vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium and vitamin B12.

A school food authority is no longer required to notify the state agency that it is serving non-dairy beverages, and students who request a plant-based milk alternative for a non-disability-related reason are no longer required to submit a written statement. Parents and guardians, rather than just licenced physicians, are also now authorised to submit a note ensuring their child’s access to a non-dairy milk is guaranteed.

Commenting on the expansion of access to plant-based milk substitutes, Sanah Baig, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Institute, said: “Students deserve choices at school that reflect the way families eat today. This legislation respects parents’ choices, provides kids with more options, and strengthens American agriculture.”

“Allowing schools to offer nutritionally equivalent plant-based milks alongside dairy milk unlocks new markets for American farmers that grow soy, nuts, peas, oats and other nutritious crops used to make these products.”

US Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who co-led the development of the Act, also introduced the Plant Powered School Meals Pilot Act yesterday (14 January) – legislation that would create a new grant programme for school districts to increase plant-based meal offerings to students.

“Providing additional resources to school districts so that they can provide more plant-based food options brings us a step closer to ensuring that all students can have access to healthy, sustainable meals,“ said Schiff. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to introduce this legislation.“

Grant funding made available through the Plant Powered School Meals Pilot Act would support:

• Culinary training and technical assistance for school foodservice operators and staff

• Procurement costs of plant-based protein and milk sources from underserved producers; local producers; and female, veteran and beginning farmers

• Marketing and student engagement, such as conducting taste tests and providing nutrition education

• Additional labour costs incurred by preparing and serving plant-based options

• Partnering with small and medium-sized plant-based food businesses and producers for professional development and training

• School districts who serve a high population of low-income students