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TDA Issues Guidance on New School Milk Flexibilities

Clip Art: Milk Carton
Image: Pixabay

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has issued preliminary guidance to Texas schools about the new National School Lunch Program (NSLP) milk options available under the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 that President Trump signed into law on Wednesday (Jan. 14, 2026).

Key points:

  • School food authorities (SFAs) can serve both whole and 2% milk in addition to 1% and fat-free milk for meals claimed in NSLP.

  • Schools can also serve non-dairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk (for example, soy milk or other plant-based milk).
  • The new law pertains only to lunches served in NSLP and does not apply to breakfasts served in the School Breakfast Program or snacks/meals served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
  • TDA is awaiting further guidance about future federal rule making and applicability to other nutrition programs.