For nearly 50 years, the U.S. government has urged Americans to avoid whole milk. The shift began in the late 1970s, when rising rates of obesity and heart disease led to strict recommendations: drink low-fat or skim milk, limit cheese, and keep saturated fat to a minimum. These guidelines became official in 1980, shaping what schools served, what food aid programs provided, and even how families stocked their refrigerators.Now, that long-standing stance may soon change.Kennedy Pushes for a Policy ReversalHealth and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly argued that full-fat dairy deserves government endorsement. Backed by President Donald Trump, Kennedy is spearheading the “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy,” a plan that would allow whole milk in public schools and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance program.The move is part of Kennedy’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, which encourages eating less processed food and re-examining decades of nutritional advice. Unlike some of his more controversial positions, such as promoting raw milk or questioning vaccines, this proposal has mainstream support. Dairy farmers, nutritionists, and even some public health experts agree the science on dairy fat may have been misunderstood.Is Whole or Skim Milk Healthier?For decades, the case against whole milk rested on one concern: saturated fat. Experts feared it clogged arteries, contributed to diabetes, and drove obesity rates higher. But the evidence has never been airtight. Randomized trials have not proved that low-fat milk is healthier than whole milk, while newer research suggests dairy fat may actually help regulate blood sugar, improve satiety, and slow digestion.A 2020 meta-analysis of 28 studies found mixed results, in most, children who drank whole milk were less likely to be overweight, but in others, milk type made no difference. Some researchers now argue the distinction between whole and low-fat dairy may not matter as much as once thought.Read: Why Does RFK Want Whole Milk To Return To Schools?As cardiologist Dariush Mozaffarian of Tufts University put it: “Dairy fat was given a wrongful conviction in 1980. Forty-five years later, that wrongful conviction might be overturned,” as reported by the Washington Post. What Health Organizations Still SayDespite shifting research, most health authorities continue to recommend low-fat dairy for children over age two and for adults. Their advice remains consistent: limit saturated fat to under 10 percent of daily calories (or 6%, in the case of the American Heart Association).U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Whole milk for toddlers; skim or 1% for older children and adults.American Heart Association: Whole milk for toddlers; skim, 1 percent, or 2% for older groups.American Academy of Pediatrics: Whole milk for toddlers unless obesity risk is high; skim or 1% afterward.World Health Organization: Breastfeeding preferred for infants; whole milk acceptable for older babies; saturated fat capped at 10% of daily intake.This gap, between official recommendations and newer research, is at the heart of Kennedy’s push.Industry Support for Whole MilkDairy groups have lobbied for years to bring back whole milk in schools and food programs. Producers argue consumers are already shifting toward higher-fat products as newer studies cast doubt on the dangers of dairy fat.“It’s time for federal nutrition policy to catch up with the science,” said Andrew Jerome of the International Dairy Foods Association to the Post. The National Milk Producers Federation has also pressed the government to give families more choice.Sales trends reflect this change: while 2% milk remains the most popular, whole milk consumption has been climbing slowly over the past decade.Also Read: 5 Cow’s Milk Substitutes—And What To Look For Before You BuyThe Politics Behind MilkKennedy has criticized the current dietary guidelines as “antiquated” and too lengthy, promising to replace the 149-page report with a shorter version focused on whole foods. He has also called for re-elevating milk, cheese, and yogurt as central to children’s health.The Trump administration’s upcoming dietary guidance is expected to highlight whole milk as a healthy choice, though it has remained silent on flavored milks like chocolate or strawberry. These remain available in reduced-fat varieties, despite concerns over high sugar content.Critics, however, caution against rushing to rewrite policy. Erin Ogden of the Center for Science in the Public Interest warned and told the Post that saturated fat is still linked to health risks: “There hasn’t been enough evidence indicating that the source of saturated fat changes its impact on the body.”What Comes NextMost public schools have been barred from serving whole milk since 2010, when a law signed by President Barack Obama tied lunches to federal nutrition guidelines. The WIC program follows the same rules, restricting families from buying whole milk for children over age two.That could soon change. If the administration finalizes Kennedy’s proposals, both school lunches and WIC benefits may once again include whole and 2 percent milk. Kennedy has pledged to complete an overhaul of the dietary guidelines by the end of the year.“The attack on whole milk and cheese and yogurt has gone on for decades,” Kennedy said recently. “It’s time to elevate those products to where they belong in contributing to the health of our children.”
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