School milk: Promoting children's health

Healthier eating habits can contribute to the fight against the growing overweight and obesity scourge among children and young people. That is why, under the European School Milk Scheme, Agriculture Ministries across Europe grant subsidies for the distribution of milk products in learning institutions.

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The purpose of the programme is both nutritional and educational. It provides dairy products containing important proteins, vitamins and minerals to children in nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, and in certain Member States to universities, and also supports the development of healthier eating habits as an alternative to junk food and drinks, taking into account the traditional or cultural habits of each individual country. Serving milk at school is thus an investment in future generations.

Through the scheme - which has been running for more than 30 years now - the EU provides subsidies for the supply of 0,25 l of milk per student per school day. With the latest revision of the programme, the range of products covered by the subsidy has been extended by new variants to make it more attractive.

Promoting young people's intake of dairy products should encourage them to maintain a balanced diet and continue milk consumption when they grow older. This would increase the demand for milk products and support European dairy farmers, who suffer from the drop in demand and prices of dairy products in the EU.

The School Milk Scheme is part of a larger EU campaign for healthy eating that includes the School Fruit Scheme and "The Tasty Bunch", an initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet among children.

More information:
The School Milk Scheme (en/fr/de)
The School Milk Programme "Milk - Drink it up!" 
The School Fruit Scheme (en/fr/de) 
The Tasty Bunch