SOYMILK IN USDA’S CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
ASA Position: ASA asks Congress to give schools a choice to offer fortified soymilk to all students as part of a reimbursable meal in USDA’s child nutrition programs. This choice should not be conditioned on unnecessary and intrusive paperwork such as justification from parents or state agency notifications.
Background: Dairy products are not an accepted source of nutrition for some children. Due to lactose intolerance, allergies to bovine protein, or cultural and religious practices, a growing population of students do not take full advantage of federal nutrition programs, including the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, because they cannot consume dairy.
Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act is pending in Congress. The current extension of these program is due to expire March 31, 2004.
On March 10, 2004, the House Education and Workforce Committee completed markup of the `The Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act' (HR 3873). The bill includes a provision allowing schools to offer soymilk if the student provides a parent’s note "that identifies the medical or other special dietary need that restricts the student’s diet" and the school notifies the State agency that it is implementing a variation.
Currently, USDA will not reimburse schools for soymilk unless the student presents a statement from a physician or recognized medical authority. Schools want, and students deserve, options for nutritional beverages that meet the needs of all students they serve without the documentation and financial burden for families to obtain physicians’ statements because a student does not, or cannot, drink dairy milk.
Lactose intolerance is prevalent in some population groups as early as two years of age. Studies of school-aged children have found prevalence rates of up to 72% of African Americans, up to 85% of Asian Americans, and up to 21% of Caucasian Americans.
For children not consuming dairy products, fortified soymilk is a nutritional option. Fortified soymilk contains calcium and protein quality equivalent to milk, as well as iron and vitamins A, D, and B. Fortified soymilk is low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol.
Most soymilks are fortified with 300-400 milligrams of calcium per 8 oz. The majority of soymilks are also fortified with 400 IU per liter of vitamin D, as well as vitamin A and vitamin B12.
Many health groups recognize that fortified soymilk is an appropriate choice for children who do not consume dairy products. The USDA’s 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans lists "soy-based beverages with added calcium" as a suitable source of calcium.