H.R. 2539: Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act

This bill, titled the Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act, aims to amend the existing Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require schools that participate in the school lunch program to offer a variety of milk options to students. The key updates proposed by the bill are as follows:

Types of Milk Offered

The bill specifies changes to the types of milk that must be offered in school lunch programs:

• Introduction of Plant-Based Milk: The term fluid milk is changed to simply milk, allowing schools to provide both traditional fluid milk and plant-based milk options.
• Nutritional Standards: For plant-based milk that does not meet specific existing guidelines, the bill mandates that it must still align with nutritional standards set by the Secretary of Agriculture.
• Removal of Certain Restrictions: The bill removes previous limitations that only recognized fluid milk, thus broadening the offerings available to students.

Conforming Amendments

In addition to the main changes about the types of milk offered, the bill includes conforming amendments to ensure that all references to milk throughout the National School Lunch Act are updated to reflect the inclusion of plant-based options:

• Inclusion in Various Sections: Sections of the Act that mention milk will now include the phrase or plant-based to reinforce the inclusion of such alternatives.

Overall Impact

The overall intent of the bill is to provide greater flexibility and choices for students regarding milk in school lunches, catering to dietary preferences and needs, including those who prefer or require plant-based options.

Implementation

If passed, this legislation would affect school cafeteria operations and the procurement of milk and vegan alternatives in participating schools. Schools would need to adjust their menus and potentially find new suppliers to meet the requirements set forth in the bill.

Relevant Companies

• TSN (Tyson Foods, Inc.): A major supplier of food products that might see changes in demand depending on how schools adjust their milk offerings.
• MOOD (Mooala): A company specializing in plant-based milk alternatives that may benefit from increased school contracts.
• SWKS (Silk): Another brand that offers plant-based milk and could see growth in demand from schools looking to provide more variety.