US Senate Approves Bill for Plant-Based Milk in Schools

The US Senate has passed a significant bill aimed at providing children with access to plant-based milk options in schools. The bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 received unanimous support, following advocacy from groups including Switch4Good and Animal Wellness Action. This legislation marks a pivotal change in the National School Lunch Program, which serves approximately 30 million students annually.

Currently, the National School Lunch Program only guarantees a dairy substitute when specifically requested through a doctor’s note. The newly amended act will change this by allowing schools to offer nutritionally equivalent plant-based options as standard. Parents will also have the ability to communicate their children’s dietary needs without needing to go through a healthcare provider.

Legislation Aims to Expand Choices

Marjorie Mulhall, senior director of policy at the Plant-Based Foods Association (PBFA), expressed optimism about the bill’s passage. “We applaud Congress for advancing improvements to the National School Lunch Program that will expand students’ access to plant-based milks while also cutting down on taxpayer waste,” she stated.

The updated legislation responds to a growing demand for alternatives to traditional dairy products. Approximately 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, a condition that affects many children. In addition, data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated that nearly 30 percent of school milk cartons go untouched and are discarded.

“Students deserve choices at school that reflect the way families eat today,” said Sanah Baig, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Institute. “This legislation respects parents’ choices, provides kids with more options, and strengthens American agriculture.”

Next Steps for the Legislation

With the Senate’s approval, the bill now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump. If signed into law, it will officially permit schools to serve plant-based milks alongside traditional dairy options. According to Baig, this step is crucial for unlocking new markets for American farmers who cultivate soy, nuts, peas, oats, and other crops used to produce these alternatives.

Dotsie Bausch, founder of Switch4Good, noted that the amendments to the legislation are the result of “three-and-a-half years of fighting tooth and nail to overturn the 80-year-old cow’s milk mandate in our nation’s public schools.” This reflects a broader trend toward inclusivity in school meal programs, aligning with changing dietary preferences among families.

As the legislative process moves forward, the potential impact on children’s health and agricultural markets remains to be seen. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act could signal a significant shift in how schools approach dietary options, making plant-based milks a standard choice for students across the United States.