They’ve got milk, but many California kids can’t tolerate it. Schools can now offer alternatives

California schools now offer plant-based milk alternatives like soy milk to accommodate students with lactose intolerance or dietary preferences. The federal Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act allows this change, but soy milk costs 75 cents more per carton than cow’s milk due to federal subsidies. California’s new budget allocates $400 million to improve school kitchen infrastructure and support sustainable food procurement, including plant-based beverages.