US added sugars drop for school flavoured milks, says IDFA

The US’s school milk processors have reduced added sugars by nearly 60% in flavoured milk products sold at schools as a result of a voluntary, industry-led effort, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).

It announced the results of the Healthy School Milk Commitment launched in April 2023 by 37 school milk processors representing approximately 95% of the school milk volume in the US. The commitment calls on dairy companies to provide healthy, nutritious school milk options with fewer calories and no more than 10g of added sugar per 8oz serving by the 2025-2026 school year. The latest survey by IDFA shows the current level of added sugar in flavoured milk is 7.2g per serving on average, demonstrating that all companies have met or exceeded the pledge. Added sugar levels in flavoured milk products sold at schools have dropped by 57% since 2006 due to the voluntary, proactive efforts of America’s school milk processors. Calories associated with flavoured milk have also declined during that same period, from 166 to 123 calories per 8oz serving.

The industry’s efforts are outpacing a US government threshold set in 2024 by a wide margin. IDFA announced the Healthy School Milk Commitment in 2023, creating the first voluntary, proactive industry commitment related to foods sold at school. One year later, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated its school meal standards to reflect the 10g or less pledge of the IDFA commitment. Now, school milk processors have surpassed their own pledge ahead of government standards taking effect. As the 2025-2026 school year begins, the average flavoured milk product is packed with milk’s 13 essential nutrients and contains just 7.2g of added sugar per serving. Since 2023, dairy companies have reformulated 24 individual products. Flavoured milk provides students with one of the most complete nutrient packages while contributing less than 4% of added sugars in the diets of children 2-18 years. In fact, the total sugar in flavoured milk sold in schools is below total sugar in 100% fruit juice sold in schools such as apple and orange juice, with more nutrients, too.

“By slashing added sugars in school milk, America’s dairy companies are fulfilling their pledge to America’s parents and children to offer wholesome, nutritious milk options with fewer calories and the same essential nutrients,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA. “Thirty-seven milk processors have worked for more than two years to reformulate their products to reduce added sugars, lower calories, remove artificial colours, and offer new lactose-free options, all while maintaining milk’s 13 essential nutrients that children need for healthy growth and development. School milk is the leading source of calcium, vitamin D, and potassium for American children. IDFA and our nation’s dairy farmers and school milk processors will continue to step up in a big way to provide wholesome and healthy milk options to children year around.”

USDA’s school meal programmes including lunch and breakfast serve 30 million children every day. The IDFA Healthy School Milk Commitment was expanded in late 2023 to include USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, a program that provides healthy meals and snacks to up to 3.2 million low-income children and teens during the summer months when schools are out of session. Earlier this year, dairy companies also committed to remove all certified artificial colours in dairy products in school meals, including milk products, by 2026.