I have an urgent request for the White House as it is garnering support for its national nutrition strategy that was unveiled at the September 28 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health: Tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop putting students’ health at risk, and cut the red tape for them to get nondairy replacements for dairy milk in school lunches.

In the United States, cow’s milk has been viewed as the ultimate “health food” for decades. However, as a pediatrician with over 13 years in practice, my experience has shown there are many potential health risks for children associated with cow’s milk consumption, such as eczema, asthma, constipation, and chronic abdominal pain. It can increase the risk of heart disease and breast and prostate cancers in adulthood. I believe that the risks of cow’s milk consumption outweigh any potential benefits.

One of the main arguments for cow’s milk consumption is the belief that it promotes bone strength, but multiple studies have called this into question. A 2012 study published by the American Medical Association showed that active children who consumed the most cow’s milk had more bone fractures than those who consumed less. So, if milk increases the risk of several medical conditions and does not actually protect our bones, should we be forcing it upon children in schools?

Schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program must provide a substitute for dairy milk for students who have a documented disability that restricts their diet. But for many people who are lactose intolerant — some 65 percent of the world’s population, by some estimates — the process remains onerous. A written request from a student’s physician, parent, or legal guardian, with the reason why the nondairy milk is necessary must be submitted to the child’s school. Even with that note, it’s up to school officials — not parents or students — to decide whether to fulfill it.

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