It’s been 40 years since the federal government first recommended that everyone except young children opt for low-fat or nonfat dairy products over high-fat dairy products as part of an overall goal of reducing saturated fat intake and calories.
A decade later, US sales of low-fat and skim milk combined exceeded those of whole milk for the first time, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. And in 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act required that schools follow dietary recommendations and replace whole milk with nonfat or low-fat unflavored milk or nonfat flavored milk.