Comment on FR Doc # 2026-09212
Center for Science in the Public InterestOpposeAdvocacy
Summary: The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) opposes the USDA's decision to remove dairy fat restrictions and exempt fluid milk from weekly saturated fat limits in child nutrition programs. They argue that these changes lack scientific evidence and could lead to excessive saturated fat intake for children, while also requesting clearer provisions for nondairy beverage access and added sugar limits.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) submits these comments in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule, Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs (91 FR 25073). In this comment, we provide an explanation of why we oppose aspects of the final rule as well as recommendations for areas that should be strengthened and clarified in order to meet the stated goal of the final rule.
In this comment, we make the following points:
1. CSPI opposes USDA’s decisions to remove dairy fat restrictions from the CNPs and exempt fluid milk from school meal weekly saturated fat limits.
2. CSPI urges USDA to include and specify the nondairy beverage access provisions included in the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in future rulemaking and ensure these provisions apply to all CNPs.
3. CSPI requests USDA clarify that any flavored milk options, regardless of fat content, must meet per-product added sugar limits and weekly added sugar limits as established in the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.