In their paper, Dr. Hanks and his research team found that eliminating chocolate milk from elementary schools reduced total milk sales by 9.9%, leaving 30 fewer students to take milk. Although this means that 90.1% of previous milk sales have been restored, as children took 1% white or pure, 71.4% of students took milk compared to 77.8 before the ban. Although total milk sales largely recovered, students who consumed milk wasted 29.4% more, increasing the cost of extra white milk consumed by 10%[1]. Nutritionally, students consumed less sugar and fewer calories on average after milk substitution, but also consumed less protein and calcium. Eliminating chocolate milk slightly reduced the students` milk intake without affecting the average intake of important milk-related nutrients, and the milk`s consumption of added sugar decreased significantly. High schools should consider removing chocolate milk to promote healthy beverage consumption. We collected data on milk selection and waste as part of the multi-pronged intervention study to increase high school student participation in school meals (MPI) (23). All participating schools (n = 24) were traditional colleges (grades 6 to 8, n = Grades 12) and high schools (grades 9 to 12, n = 12) in the Unified School District of San Francisco, a district in Northern California.
The MPI study used a quasi-randomized design in which 6 middle schools and 6 secondary schools received a 3-pole intervention (canteen redesign, additional lunch outlets [mobile cart and vending machine] and teacher outreach) over a 3-year study period (school years 2015-16 to 2017-18) and 12 schools served as comparisons and did not receive the intervention. We found no evidence of change in effect by the MPI intervention school in relation to school status (P > 0.20); Therefore, data for the 24 schools are presented together. This research has been approved by the University of California, Berkeley, the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, and the Department of Research, Planning, and Accountability of the San Francisco Unified School District. How many foods – real butter, anyone? – the happiness of chocolate milk has increased and decreased over time. Despite this setback, flavoured milk remains a mainstay in most schools. Nearly 80 percent of school districts offer flavored milk in their cafeterias, according to the School Nutrition Association`s 2018 survey of its members. This is the return to 2014 levels after a drop in 2016, when 70% of districts reported serving flavoured milk. a Data calculated from linear mixed-effect models with a random effect for school, adjusted for the type of secondary school (middle or high school, comprehensive school enrolment, enrolment of students by race/ethnicity and proportion of students eligible for free or discounted meals). b P < 0.05. The Trump administration repeated this argument in its decision to relax some of the Obama-era regulations on school meals. The new rules not only allowed low-fat flavoured milk, but also relaxed sodium and whole grain requirements in school meals served under federal programs.
In the United States, students consume nearly half of their calories from school meals; Thus, schools provide a favourable framework for improving their nutrition (10). Interventions that target the school meal environment rather than focusing on individual eating behaviors have been shown to be the most effective in positively influencing food intake (11). Sweetened and flavoured milk remains the only SSB available in schools under government-reimbursable school feeding programmes (12). Therefore, measures to eliminate chocolate milk in schools are an environmental approach increasingly used to reduce the consumption of SSB by young people. Although chocolate milk contains the same important nutrients as simple, unflavored milk, it contains up to twice as much sugar. We collected data on milk choices and milk consumption during lunch break 1 from 24 public high schools in California before policy (N = 3,158 students in 2016) and after politics (N = 2,966 students in 2018). The schools had a student population made up of 38% Asians and 29% Latinos, of which 63% were eligible for free or discounted meals. We used linear mixed-effects models to assess changes in milk selection and waste, and estimated related changes in added sugar, calcium, protein and vitamin D consumed in milk.
[1] Milk waste data was collected using the quarter waste method and by measuring the amount of milk students poured into a designated milk waste bucket. The 2010 dietary guidelines show that 85-90% of bone mass is acquired before the age of 18 and dairy products are excellent sources of calcium and protein. Removing flavoured milk from cafeterias offers nutritional benefits such as reduced added sugar, but the economic and nutritional costs warrant reconsideration. Among the least restrictive alternatives is making white milk more convenient, attractive and socially appealing. This can be achieved by moving the white milk to the front of all beverage coolers, making it 1/3 of the total milk offered. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics says flavored milk should be avoided for children under the age of five. A version of this article first appeared on the Rules for Engagement blog. Suggested quote for this article: Thompson HR, Ritchie L, Park E, Madsen KA, Gosliner W. Effect of eliminating chocolate milk on milk and nutrient intake in urban high school students.
Previous Column Dis 2020;17:200033. DOI: symbol dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200033external. Chocolate milk is a favorite in the cafeteria. Where would we be without those precious mini-boxes that get us through that never-ending school day? But it`s time for some to let go of the nostalgia and realize the truth: flavored milk contains a lot of added sugar. Some parents are therefore campaigning for a ban on chocolate milk in public schools. Others argue that flavored milk is the only option for some children to get certain nutrients. What do you think schools should do? But some districts are reintroducing chocolate milk into their cafeterias. Not everyone agrees with a possible ban. According to TODAY, some experts say that chocolate milk is a great alternative for kids who don`t like simple milk as long as it`s consumed in moderation. One reason to stay healthy is that it has an overload of sugar in stock. The next avalanche in the snow-capped mountains are the useless ingredients you don`t need.
And finally, the show-downer, chocolate milk can cause large or minor stomach problems. We used linear mixed-effect models to measure differences before policy (2016) and after policy (2018) in 1) the proportion of students who chose milk (the number of students who chose milk divided by the total number of students participating in the study), 2) the proportion of milk wasted (the average proportion of milk wasted per carton), and 3) the average of the ounces of milk consumed per student (sum of the total grams of milk consumed divided by the number of participating students).
