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| (Photo : REUTERS/ANDREW GOMBERT) The state of Connecticut proposed a legislation calling for a statewide ban on the serving of chocolate milk in school cafeterias following pressure from health overseers. |
Lawmakers in the state of Connecticut proposed the ban of chocolate milk and certain juices from being served in schools across the state, CBS reported.
The proposed bill awaits the signature of Governor Dannel Malloy and, if it goes through, takes effect September.
It also leads to Connecticut becoming the first state in the country to ban chocolate milk in schools statewide and not just in a single district.
The proposal came amidst the longstanding battle against child obesity and increasing pressure on lawmakers to enact new nutrition-targeted rules on schools from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, a federal policy calling for requirements from the United States Department of Agriculture's Nutrition Programs.
Included in those Nutrition Programs are standards for school lunch programs which, if not met, cuts the state off from funds from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
The call for the ban seems quite drastic as the Act does not require any such actions against individual food items, only some restrictions on food types like flavored milks being non-fat, according to a USDA spokesperson.
However, the Act does require that all milk be low-fat and unflavored with beverages in general required to be without artificial sweeteners, added sodium and have no more than four grams of sugar per ounce.
This means that chocolate milk with its high fructose corn syrup and 200 milligrams of sodium is not allowed.
While the intention of lawmakers for the ban is aimed towards better nutrition, some nutritionists argue that banning chocolate milk will lead to other health complications for children as some do not like to drink unflavored milk. This could lead to children lacking in calcium, WFSB reported.
"I know several kids who won't drink any milk if it's not chocolate," said Mary Manwaring, a Rocky Hill resident whose daughter prefers to drink chocolate milk from regular milk.
"From a nutrient profile, you're getting calcium, vitamin D, potassium, phosphorus and other nutrients," said Jill Castle, a dietician from New Canaan.
Still, other nutrition experts disagree and claim that the food industry simply has to adjust and that the ban does not necessarily mean that flavored milk is completely out, only that it has less unhealthy components.
"This isn't going to keep out flavored milk. All it's going to do it make sure the flavored milk that's in there is not going to have added salt," said Marlene Schwartz, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, the Hartford Courant reported.
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