It has been over a decade ever since federal policy limited higher-fat- milk in schools. This step was taken to curb down childhood obesity in the US. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 children and adolescents between age 2 to 19 have obesity. This means the prevalence of obesity among US children and adolescents was 19.7%, which means that 14.7 million US youths aged 2 to 19 have obesity. However, a new wave of lawmakers and health voices, including the Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr., is calling for whole milk's return. Push For Full-Fat DairyThe Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Service, RFK Jr., recently criticized the current US Dietary Guidelines as "antiquated". He is advocating for Head Start programs, which will offer full-fat dairy, and also include whole milk, instead of low-fat versions. This stance, as per him, aligns with the views of promoting traditional, less processed foods. The US Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry recently held a hearing on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow schools to serve whole and 2% milk alongside the already permitted skim and low-fat options. A companion bill in the House of Representatives has bipartisan support. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, who introduced the bill, said, “Whole milk is part of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement — a return to whole foods.”The National Milk Producers Federation has endorsed the legislation, stating it could encourage more children to drink milk again.Why Does It Matter?The federal government plays an important role in school meals through its National School Lunch Programs. This is bound by the US Dietary Guidelines, which are updated in every five years, by the Department of Agriculture and HHS. They recommended low or fat-free dairy for children over age 2, up to 40 years and above. In 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act limited school milk offerings to skim and 1% options, flavored or unflavored, unless a student had a documented medical need for whole milk.Amy Reed, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, explained that while higher-fat milk has more calories, the nutrient profile — calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and magnesium — is largely consistent across milk types.The main concern around whole milk is its saturated fat content, which has been linked to heart disease and obesity. However, experts say the picture is more nuanced.Cardiologist Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Tufts University tells CNN that not all saturated fats are the same and that dairy fat, in particular, may offer benefits. “Some studies show dairy fat may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” he said, adding that milk and yogurt have a neutral or even protective relationship with heart health.The current dietary guidelines advisory committee, while reaffirming existing recommendations, acknowledged that there is limited but emerging evidence that whole milk may benefit growth and weight management in younger children. Still, the evidence wasn’t strong enough to warrant a policy shift.