LAUSD Eliminate Flavored Milk From Schools
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Los Angeles Unified School District voted to eliminate flavored milk from school lunch menus Tuesday
The school board chose to eliminate chocolate and strawberry milk options from its dairy contract. LAUSD cites obesity concerns and says that one in three students in the district is overweight.
"Milk, like many dairy products and natural fruit juices, has a certain amount of natural sugar, but flavored milks have additional sugar on top of it. And given the health situation nationwide and here in L.A., it is not necessary to provide students with all that additional sugar," LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy said.
Nutritional facts show that one cup of fat free chocolate milk has 120 calories and 20 grams of sugar. Strawberry milk has 130 calories and 26 grams of sugar, the same as a cup of Coke.
LAUSD will now only serve unflavored milk, which has 120 calories and 14 grams of sugar, in the 650,000 meals it serves daily.
"Its about youth health . . . we want students to make healthy choices. We want to provide healthy alternatives," Dr. Deasy said.
LAUSD is the first district in the nation to eliminate flavored milk in schools.
