Milk

The milk component of the SFSP meal patterns requires fluid milk. Milk must be pasteurized, meet all state and local requirements, and contain vitamins A and D at levels specified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Allowable Types of Milk  |   Serving Requirements  |   Crediting Guidance  |   Smoothies
Milk Substitutes  |   Milk Variety Exemption for RCCIs

Allowable Types of Milk

The SFSP meal patterns allow unflavored or flavored whole milk, reduced-fat (2%) milk, low-fat (1%) milk, fat-free milk, buttermilk, lactose-reduced milk, acidophilus milk, and lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk. 

• Recommended fat content: Serve unflavored whole milk for age 1, unflavored low-fat or fat-free milk for ages 2-5, and unflavored or flavored low-fat or fat-free milk for ages 6 and older.
• State beverage statute for public schools: In addition to the meal pattern requirements, milk and nondairy milk substitutes in public schools must also meet the state beverage requirements of Section 10-221q of the Connecticut General Statutes. The state beverage statute applies to all beverages available for sale to students on school premises, as part of and separately from reimbursable meals and ASP snacks. A list of products that comply with the federal and state requirements is available in list 16 (milk) and list 17 (nondairy milk substitutes) on the CSDE's List of Acceptable Foods and Beverages webpage. 

Serving Requirements

Milk is measured in cups. The minimum creditable amount is the full serving, with an exception for milk in smoothies. 

Crediting Guidance

• Crediting Milk
  • Overview: Requirements for the Milk Component of the SFSP Meal Patterns (CSDE)
  • Crediting Fluid Milk in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
  • CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 06-19: Summary of Federal and State Milk Requirements for the NSLP, SBP, SSO of the NSLP, ASP of the NSLP, and Special Milk Program (SMP)
• Food Buying Guide: Section 5 Milk (USDA)
  • Overview of Crediting Requirements for the Milk Component 
  • Yield Table for Milk 
• USDA Memos
  • USDA Memo SP 01-2025: Fluid Milk Requirements for School Meals
  • USDA Memo SP 06-2007: Fluid Milk and Other Food Components/Menu Items in Reimbursable Lunches
  • USDA Memo SP 39-2019: Clarification on the Milk and Water Requirements in the School Meal Programs 

Milk in Smoothies

The minimum creditable amount of milk in a smoothie is ¼ cup. SFSP sponsors must have a recipe or product formulation statement (PFS) to document the type and amount of milk in the smoothie serving.

• Crediting Smoothies in the SFSP (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 40-2019, CACFP 17-2019, and SFSP 17-2019: Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs

Milk Substitutes for Disability Reasons

Nondairy milk substitutes (such as soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, rice milk, and oat milk) are allowed in the SFSP only for children whose disability restricts their diet. Juice, water, and other beverages cannot substitute for milk in SFSP meals and snacks for children without a disability.

Milk substitutes for non-disability reasons are allowed only for school food authorities (SFAs) that operate the SFSP. For more information, visit the "Milk Substitutes in School Nutrition Programs" section of the CSDE's Special Diets in School Nutrition Programs webpage.