Gov. Dannel P. Malloy does not support banning chocolate milk in Connecticut schools, according to a statement from his administration that stops short of promising to veto a bill including such a ban.
Malloy’s spokesman Andrew Doba said Friday:
“This specific bill has not yet come to the Governor’s desk and will be reviewed in detail when it arrives. However, on the broader topic at hand, the Governor is not supportive of banning chocolate milk in public schools. While we must be extremely mindful of the nutritional value of what’s offered to students, ensuring an appropriate array of options helps to ensure that kids receive the calcium and other nutrients they need.”
On the last night of the session, the legislature unanimously passed a bill effectively banning the sale of chocolate milk at schools. The ban was tucked in legislation making “minor revisions” to education statutes.
CTNewsJunkie wrote about the bill Wednesday setting off widespread media coverage of potential chocolate milk ban.
According to a statement from Quinnipiac University, Connecticut would be the first state in the country to ban chocolate milk from school cafeterias.
“The proposed ban is silly as far as I am concerned,” Dana White, an assistant professor of athletic training and sports medicine, said in the statement. “The nutrient benefits of chocolate milk including calcium, potassium and vitamin D are all nutrients that kids don’t get enough of. They far outweigh the sugar and sodium.”
