Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville discussed the significance of dairy consumption for children's development during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry hearing. This session included a conversation with Dr. Eve Stoody, Director of the Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tuberville, a member of the Senate Make America Healthy Again Caucus, voiced support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, which aims to reintroduce 2% and whole milk options in schools.

In his remarks, Tuberville spoke about his previous experiences working with students and noted: "My former profession was working with students and kids. I traveled to hundreds and hundreds of high schools across the country in all 50 states. I ate at [cafeteria] lunch rooms and the food [was mostly] atrocious." He expressed a viewpoint that reducing milk offerings was detrimental. “We looked at the formula that we could have been feeding my new granddaughter. [If] we wanna do away with something, we [should] do away with that because it’s nothing but sugar," he said.

Highlighting the need for updated nutrition standards, Tuberville remarked: "But, you know, science improves and changes over time. We know that our nutrition standards should not be what they were in 2010. They have to change."

Dr. Stoody, representing the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, provided insights from their recent review. She noted, “The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee did an extensive review... they looked at a lot of new evidence.” She elaborated on the importance of maintaining dairy in dietary patterns due to its nutrient content.

When Tuberville inquired if milk is preferable to soda for children, Stoody responded affirmatively: "Yes. I think the point of the Dietary Guidelines is that there is flexibility."

Senator Tuberville represents Alabama and serves on several Senate committees, including Armed Services and Agriculture.