WASHINGTON — An initiative centered around providing healthy milk options to school children in the United States has helped reduce added sugar levels in flavored school milk by 10%, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shared.

The Healthy School Milk Commitment, which IDFA and 37 school milk processors launched in April 2023, served as a pledge to offer school milk options with no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid oz serving.

Data shared by IDFA showed that since the commitment was established, added sugar in flavored school milk products declined from 8.2 grams to 7.4 grams per serving, and school milk processors have removed the equivalent of 5.9 million pounds of added sugar from those products, such as chocolate or strawberry milk, in the past year.

IDFA president and chief executive officer Michael Dykes said the results show how US dairy companies are finding ways to make sure children get milk’s 13 essential nutrients.

“The Healthy School Milk Commitment ensures all children, especially our most vulnerable, have access to nutritious milk options throughout the year with less added sugar and fewer calories,” Dykes said. “School milk is the leading source of calcium, vitamin D and potassium for American children. IDFA and our nation’s school milk processors have stepped up in a big way to provide wholesome and healthy milk options to children all year around.”

The commitment also includes the US Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides nutritious meals and snacks during summer breaks.

Statistics shared by IDFA highlighted that more than two-thirds of the milk consumed by school children is flavored.

Per surveys IDFA and Prime Consulting conducted with school milk processors, the level of added sugars in flavored milk products decreased by 55% between 2006 and 2024, from 16.7 grams per 8 oz serving, to 7.4 grams per serving. IDFA also noted that calories declined in the same period, from 166, to less than 125 calories per 8 oz serving.