By: Daniela Doria
In an exclusive New York Post report, Mayor Eric Adams is backing off his proposed ban on chocolate milk at least for now — and instead urging Congress to pass a law allowing vegetarian alternatives in select New York City schools, according to a letter obtained by The Post.
Adams — who follows a mostly vegan diet and has already scheduled plant-based menus in city public schools – assured a nine-member, bipartisan group of New York’s Congressional delegation that he won’t push for a ban on chocolate milk, at least for now. But he said he intends to pursue a pilot program, as well as federal legislation, requiring plant-based meals.
“My administration is committed to empowering our students and their parents with the information and resources needed to make healthy choices for themselves and for our city,” the city mayor wrote in a letter dated Thursday, April 14 addressed to the New York delegation obtained by New York Post reporters, Bernadette Hogan and Carl Campanile.
“We are preparing for stakeholder engagement with our school communities to provide feedback on all aspects of our school food program. In the interim, we are not making any determinations about chocolate milk.”
But upstate Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik blasted Adams’ letter as nothing more than a distraction from his true aim to replace dairy with “vegan juice.”
“A temporary hold on the decision to ban chocolate milk in schools, thanks to our bipartisan efforts, is a win for Upstate New York farmers,” Stefanik told The Post in a statement.
Stefanik appears to be putting the financial needs of his farmer constituents ahead of the health of New York’s youngest citizens.
Stefanik – the No. 3 GOP member in the House – already introduced federal legislation requiring all schools to offer chocolate milk, in response to Adams’ intended ban. Adams said he favors federal legislation sponsored by Brooklyn Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez that would permit a healthy food pilot program in schools, according to The New York Post.
Adams said he favors federal legislation sponsored by Brooklyn Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez that would permit a healthy food pilot program in schools.
“This legislation amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by establishing a pilot grant program for school food authorities to provide healthy and climate friendly plant-based meal and milk options for students” Adams wrote.
A recent survey from the International Dairy Foods Association found 90% of voters living in the five boroughs who send their kids to public schools support keeping low-fat flavored milk in public school meal programs.
