Food and Nutrition Service proposes rule on milk substitutes
The Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has proposed a rule that would allow children with medical or other special dietary needs to receive substitutes for fluid milk at the request of the child’s parent or legal guardian. Before the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, if parents of children with medical or other special dietary needs wanted to receive milk substitutes, the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs required their request to be supported by a recognized medical authority. The proposed regulations allow the parent or legal guardian to submit a written request for a nondairy substitute by attaching it to the application for free and reduced meals or submitting it separately in writing at any time, provided it identifies the student’s medical or other special dietary needs. Schools are required to retain this documentation. FNS is also proposing the nutritional requirements for nondairy milk substitutes to include minimum nutrient levels for various vitamins. However, the Department has decided not to propose maximum standards for calories or total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and sugars. Comments must be postmarked on or before January 8, 2007.
71 Fed. Reg. 65,753 (Nov. 9, 2006)
[Proposed regulation]