Los Angeles schools have decided to take a stand against childhood obesity by eliminating flavored milks (strawberry and chocolate) from their school menus effective July 1.
This flavored milk ban has also happened in other areas including, District of Columbia, Boulder Valley, Colorado, and Berkeley, California. The L.A. school district superintendent proposed this ban after famed chef Jamie Oliver criticized schools for serving this sugary beverage to children.
Tamar Galatzan, a school board member, opposed the decision by commenting "I really don't understand why we're letting a TV chef dictate our policy," It was noted that "the district serves fruit juices containing 27 to 29 grams of sugar per serving, more than the amount of sugar in flavored milk — 20 grams in 8 ounces of fat-free chocolate milk and 27 grams in fat-free strawberry."
The Institute of Medicine states that recent studies have shown that girls aged nine to 18 may be the only Americans in need of more calcium. However, chocolate and other flavored milks dominate 60 to 70 percent of all milk consumed in schools.
Washington school districts attempted to eliminate chocolate milk from elementary school menus last year only to reintroduce it months later after a backlash of emails from parents who worried that their children were being robbed of precious calcium and vitamin D.
It's Feedback Friday...
Do you believe flavored milks should be banned from school menus?
Would your child drink white milk if it was all that was offered? Would this ban effect your child's calcium intake?
Will this change make a difference in the childhood obesity statistics?
Would your child drink white milk if it was all that was offered? Would this ban effect your child's calcium intake?
Will this change make a difference in the childhood obesity statistics?
