Council Lends Support To ‘Milk-Choice' Coalition

The City Council is standing behind a "milk-choice" coalition calling on the Department of Education to return flavored low-fat milk to public school cafeterias.

City Council Members voted 47 to 1 yesterday on a resolution to bring back the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry 1% milk they say is more appealing to young palates. Skim, choco-skim and 1% white milk are currently the only offerings.

Council Member William DeBlasio, the sponsor of the resolution, said he was hopeful the resolution would spur the education department to reconsider its policy, noting that a study of milk consumption had shown a 10% drop among students.

A department spokeswoman, Debra Wexler, said the milk policy is an "effort to help reduce childhood obesity and high levels of diabetes."