Chocolate Milk Consequences: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Consequences of Banning Chocolate Milk in School Cafeterias

Abstract

Objectives: Currently, 68.3% of the milk available in schools is flavored, with chocolate being the most popular (61.6% of all milk). If chocolate milk is removed from a school cafeteria, what will happen to overall milk selection and consumption?Methods: In a before-after study in 11 Oregon elementary schools, flavored milk-which will be referred to as chocolate milk-was banned from the cafeteria. Milk sales, school enrollment, and data for daily participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) were compared year to date.Results: Total daily milk sales declined by 9.9% (p,0.01). Although white milk increased by 161.2 cartons per day (p,0.001), 29.4% of this milk was thrown away. Eliminating chocolate milk was also associated with 6.8% fewer students eating school lunches, and although other factors were also involved, this is consistent with the notion of psychological reactance.Conclusions: Removing chocolate milk from school cafeterias may reduce calorie and sugar consumption, but it may also lead students to take less milk overall, drink less (waste more) of the white milk they do take, and no longer purchase school lunch. Food service managers need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of eliminating chocolate milk and should consider alternative options that make white milk more convenient, attractive, and normal to choose.

Snacks, Sweetened Beverages, Added Sugars, and Schools

“…33 Eliminating the added sugars from milk may increase milk wastage, resulting in fewer ounces consumed per day. 34,35 Outside of school, whole and 2% milk varieties comprise nearly three-quarters of the milk consumed by children, whereas 1% and nonfat milk combined account for only 20%. 33 Inside schools, flavored milk represents more than 70% of all milk consumed; 38.5% of milk, however, is nonfat and 51% is 1% fat, a substantial decrease in saturated fat and calories relative to consumption patterns outside of school.…”

Flavored Milk Consumers Drank More Milk and Had a Higher Prevalence of Meeting Calcium Recommendation Than Nonconsumers

“…Of the students who consumed lunch served as part of the National School Lunch Program, two thirds chose chocolate over white milk . Previous studies have shown that children who drank flavored milk consumed more total milk overall compared with children who consumed white milk and there was significantly less wastage of milk …”

Small Prizes Increased Plain Milk and Vegetable Selection by Elementary School Children without Adversely Affecting Total Milk Purchase

“…While there is some uncertainty on how chocolate milk selection over plain milk selection affects health status, chocolate milk contains about twice the sugar as plain milk. Attempts at eliminating chocolate milk and only offering plain milk in school cafeterias have led to increased plain milk purchase, but with a 10% to 26% overall milk purchase decrease and a decrease in consumption [25,26]. In our intervention, we successfully increased plain milk and even had a modest increase in overall milk purchase.…”