New York bipartisan choir asks Eric Adams to keep chocolate milk in schools

Nine members of New York congressional delegation urge health-conscious mayor Eric Adams Not to ban the serving of chocolate milk in New York City public school cafeterias.

The nonpartisan group claimed it was concerned about the health of students and protecting the milk market in upstate New York.

“As members representing both rural and urban communities, we are committed to supporting dairy farmers, producers and agricultural partners across New York while ensuring children in New York schools have access to essential, life-enhancing nutrients,” as the members of Congress called it.

“Unfortunately, for many families in New York, the meals children receive in schools are the only source of many recommended nutrients.”

The letter was signed by Democratic Representatives Antonio Delgado, Grace Meng and Sean Patrick Maloney, and Republican Representatives Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, Claudia Tenney, Chris Jacobs, Tom Reed and John Katko.

Chocolate milk supporters have concern that Adams will become the new health nanny to resemble the former mayor Mike Bloombergwho wanted to ban the sale of large sugary drinks and was successful Ban trans fats in restaurants and smoking in bars and restaurants and other public places.

Adams, the former Brooklyn Borough President who switched to a mostly vegan diet after being diagnosed with diabetes and has already ordered plant-based meals once a week in schoolsposted a “math” Videos in 2019 in support of a Suggestion for the city’s Department of Education to scrap chocolate milk because of its sugary content.

In the video presentation, Adams showed how much sugar was in a tall glass of chocolate milk.

“Chocolate milk is loaded with added sugar and causes type 2 diabetes, obesity and other health problems,” Adams said.

“Nevertheless, we continue to serve it instead. Instead of serving our children drinks that will give them lifelong health problems, we should offer them better options like water.”

Stefanik said Adams has enough problems on his plate without becoming the food czar.

“Mayor Adams’ priorities are out of reach. Rather than address the many crises plaguing New York City, including a violent crime crisis spurred by far-left policies that demean police officers, New York Mayor Eric Adams is focused on banning chocolate milk in New York schools.” , Stefanik , representing inland Nordland, said.

“In Upstate New York and North Country we pride ourselves on drinking milk, especially chocolate milk! Flavored milk is one of the best ways for children to get the essential milk nutrients, and I will continue to work to improve access to milk for students in all New York public schools.”

In the letter, members of Congress said that two-thirds of the milk served in schools is flavored and argued that chocolate milk is an “essential way children get the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.”

“Research has found that children who drink flavored milk consume more of nutrients of concern, such as calcium, vitamin D and potassium, than drinkers of unflavored milk,” they said.

Lawmakers also said that eliminating chocolate milk will only lead to more milk wastage, as fewer children will drink regular milk.

“Studies have also shown that consumption of flavored milk is not associated with weight gain or even higher total daily sugar intake in children,” they said.

They also cited studies that found chocolate milk falls below the sugar levels considered unhealthy.

Lawmakers said there was strong bipartisan support for federal legislation — the School Milk Nutrition Act and the Whole Milk for Healthy Children Act — that would expand flavored milk options in school canteens.

“We urge you to continue offering children in New York schools a choice of flavored milk every day,” said members of Congress.

A spokesman for Adams replied, “We have received the letter, we will review it and decide what is best for our students.”