Release No. 0261.99

Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
laura.trivers@usda.gov

Phil Shanholtzer (703) 305-2286
phil.shanholtzer@usda.gov

USDA URGES STATES TO OFFER ALTERNATIVES FOR LACTOSE-INTOLERANT CHILDREN

WASHINGTON, June 24, 1999 - Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said today that USDA is encouraging state agencies that administer child nutrition programs to work with local school districts to offer alternative types of milk, such as lactose-free milk, for children who are lactose intolerant.

Today's announcement addresses an increasing concern about the ability of lactose-intolerant children to get the key nutrients available in milk through the USDA child nutrition programs. The incidence of lactose intolerance is much higher among certain ethnic groups than it is among non-Hispanic Caucasians.

"In our school meals programs, we're seeing more and more children who are lactose intolerant," Glickman said during remarks to a USDA symposium on promoting healthy eating behaviors in children. "Lactose intolerance in children, like most food sensitivities, is unusual, but we need to be sure that we are serving all children in our child nutrition programs."

USDA regulations encourage schools to provide a selection of foods and types of milk from which children may make choices in order to encourage consumption and participation. State agencies are allowed and encouraged to promote the purchase of alternative types of milk such as lactose-free milk when appropriate, though they are not required to offer the alternatives unless a doctor declares this special need to be a disability.

Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Shirley Watkins said in a letter to state child nutrition program directors that offering lactose-free milk would address the concern that some children may risk health problems by consuming conventional milk even though they are lactose intolerant, or by simply not drinking the milk and missing the nutrients essential to their diets and risking other health problems.

"We want all the nutrients in our school meals to be available to all of our children," Watkins said. "This policy is consistent with our commitment to improve the well-being of all children." 

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service operates the child nutrition programs in partnership with state and local agencies, and local partners have authority to adapt the programs to meet local needs. 

"We certainly encourage parents and others concerned with the availability of lactose-free milk or with other special needs to alert local school officials to those needs," Watkins said.

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