Let’s STOP dietary racism in U.S. schools and offer Equal Milk for All children

Summary

The script addresses the systemic racism in the US school lunch program, which mandates cow's milk despite over 50 million children suffering from allergies or lactose intolerance. It argues that this policy, which disproportionately affects children of color, is a form of dietary racism. The speaker calls for soy milk to be made available and fully reimbursable in all schools to ensure equal access to healthy, digestible milk alternatives.

Takeaways

• 🥛 The USDA mandates cow's milk in schools, which negatively impacts over 50 million children.
• 🤒 Cow's milk is a common allergen and can cause symptoms like difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and itchy skin.
• 👶 Lactose intolerance is widespread, affecting over one third of the US population, and disproportionately impacts people of color.
• 🏫 Federal law requires milk with school meals for reimbursement, pressuring children to consume a product that can make them sick.
• 🌐 This practice is termed 'dietary racism', as it is a systemic issue that mainly affects minority groups.
• 📚 Lactose intolerance can undermine learning and classroom performance, putting children of color at a disadvantage.
• 💰 The dairy industry receives substantial marketing support from the federal government, promoting milk as essential for health.
• 🍼 The National School Lunch Program serves milk to 30 million children daily, but a significant amount is wasted.
• 🔄 In 2020, the US dietary guidelines recognized soy milk as nutritionally equivalent to dairy milk, but it's not widely available in schools.
• 🌱 The speaker calls for equal milk options for all children, emphasizing the need for nutritional and educational equality.
• 📢 The message concludes with a call to action, urging the USDA to make soy milk readily available and fully reimbursable in all public schools.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the transcript?

The main issue discussed is the mandatory inclusion of cow's milk in school lunches by the USDA, which negatively impacts children with lactose intolerance, particularly children of color.

Why is cow's milk considered harmful to some children?

Cow's milk is harmful to some children because it can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and itchy skin due to lactose intolerance or food allergies.

What percentage of the US population is lactose intolerant?

Over one third of the US population is lactose intolerant.

How does lactose intolerance disproportionately impact certain populations?

Lactose intolerance disproportionately impacts Black, Asian, Indigenous Americans, and Latinx individuals, with 70 to 95% of these populations experiencing symptoms after consuming dairy.

What is the term used to describe the type of racism that affects dietary choices?

The term used to describe this type of racism is 'dietary racism'.

How does the speaker suggest that the current system is not just ignorant but also racist?

The speaker suggests that the system is racist because it forces children to consume a product that can make them sick, and this decision is made by a white majority, negatively impacting minorities.

What is the financial cost of the USDA's milk policy in schools?

The USDA spent about one billion dollars on milk in schools in fiscal year 2019.

Why is the milk often thrown away by students?

Milk is often thrown away because many students know it will make them sick due to lactose intolerance.

What alternative is suggested in the transcript to address the issue?

The transcript suggests that soy milk should be made readily available in all public schools as an alternative to cow's milk.

What is the significance of the USDA recognizing soy milk as a nutritional equivalent to dairy milk?

The significance is that it acknowledges the nutritional value of soy milk, but the transcript argues that this recognition is not enough if soy milk is not made available in schools.

What broader implications does the speaker draw from the issue of milk in schools?

The speaker draws broader implications about systemic racism, food justice, and the need for nutritional and educational equality in America.