Got chocolate milk? No longer (Minneapolis public schools ban chocolate milk as an option)

Star Tribune ^ | May 20, 2011 | JEREMY OLSON

[Qbert]

Chocolate milk might be the most popular choice for school lunch -- not to mention milk bubbles and milk mustaches. But soon it will be no choice at all in Minneapolis public schools.

[Snip]

"Consuming chocolate milk every day can train a child's palate toward sweetened foods," said Rosemary Dederichs, the district's director of nutrition services. The decision is opposed by the Midwest Dairy Association, a trade group of 11,000 dairy farms. While applauding the focus on health, the association noted that chocolate milk sold in Minneapolis schools has less sugar than other versions and only 20 calories more than a carton of 1-percent-fat milk.

In addition, research funded by the dairy industry shows that bans on chocolate milk are counterproductive. Children who switch to white milk end up throwing more away and getting less calcium and Vitamin D, said Carolyn Hudson, a dietitian with Midwest Dairy. "If the kids don't drink it," she said, "they won't get it."

[Snip]

Today, chocolate milk makes up 60 percent of the district's lunchtime milk sales.

[Snip]

"While we recognize that some children may no longer choose to drink milk at school, we believe that the decision was made in the best interest of our students," said Dederichs. She noted that even skim chocolate milk has 8 grams more sugar per serving than 1 percent or skim cartons. The district's chocolate milk also contains high-fructose corn syrup.

[Snip]

Not everyone views chocolate milk as bad. Runners, in particular, seek it after distance events because it provides protein and carbohydrate recovery for tired muscles. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups also support chocolate milk in schools because of studies showing that flavored-milk drinkers consume more milk than do youths who drink white milk only.

[paint_your_wagon]

Hmm. I don’t think school kids will just roll over on this.

It would be real easy to devise small chocolate powdered packets....just for 1/2 pint of milk...Sounds like a great marketing opportunity.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

What morons. They're going after one of the few foods that's actually GOOD for the kids, even with a little bit of flavoring.

You can't reason with liberals, although I keep trying.

[samiam1972]

Stupid schools!! We just consumed a half gallon of chocolate milk at dinner tonight. Just placed it on the table and let everyone have refills. It’s a treat for us! I can’t buy it all the time because the kids would drink it too fast and milk is very expensive right now.

I’ve found that a small glass of chocolate milk away keeps the candy bars at bay. It satisfies without being too horrible on the waistline. Not that I have one of those right now, anyway. ;0)

[samiam1972]

Oops! Away = a day

[MichiganCheese]

Bring your own chocolate milk in a thermos to school.

[longtermmemmory]

marathoners are told chocolate milk is an excellent recover drink.

(not that nesquick bottled junk)

[The Antiyuppie]

“No more fun of any kind.”

Actually, there is a great learning opportunity for capitalism here - some enterprising kid could make a few bucks. Of course, he would probably be suspended on some zero-tolerance crap, which would be another learning opportunity.