Brooklyn borough president proposes non-dairy milk choices for school children

Current school rules state that only students who are lactose-intolerant can request non-dairy milk after submitting a doctor's note.

News 12 Staff

Mar 5, 2020, 1:24 AM

Updated 1,743 days ago

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Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams is proposing a pilot program in which at least three public schools in each borough would offer non-dairy milk alternatives to kids, starting next school year.
Adams sent a letter to Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza earlier this year to make that request.
Current school rules state that only students who are lactose-intolerant can request non-dairy milk after submitting a doctor's note.
Adams told News 12 Brooklyn in a statement in part, "I believe it's time for schools to start offering alternatives to dairy products. The science is clear: students do better in class when they eat a healthy diet."
One parent said she supports the non-dairy milk proposal.
"The needs of children vary, so there are some children who cannot drink whole milk. So, wanting to provide a variety for the children, I think is a great thing," said Lovee Reddick.
One parent who did not want to be on camera said she worried about the cost of the program for some area schools. She also wondered if giving kids the choice of dairy-free milk was necessary.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education says they are reviewing the letter from Adams and added, "We share the Borough President's commitment to our student's health, and every day we serve a variety of healthy, delicious, and free meal options that exceed USDA standards, including non-dairy milk options for students who are lactose-intolerant."