PoliticsPoliticschocolate milkdannel malloy

Connecticut Almost Banned Chocolate Milk In School Lunches Thanks To Big Screwup

Connecticut Almost Banned Chocolate Milk In School Lunches Thanks To Big Screwup
By 

Politics Editor, The Huffington Post

Open Image Modal
Connecticut Gov.Dannel Malloy participates in a special session on jobs in America during the National Governor's Association Winter Meeting in Washington, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

If this week's bill in Connecticut is any proof, politics and chocolate milk are a bad mix.

On Wednesday, state lawmakers passed legislation that would have updated Connecticut health statutes to follow federal sodium standards for school lunches. Under the new rules, only low-fat or skim milk are allowed, while any added sodium, sweeteners, or sugar alcohols are banned.

Since chocolate milk has 60-to-90 milligrams of added sodium, the drink was inadvertently set to face the axe -- until Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) stepped in.

“We’re not going to ban chocolate milk in schools,” Malloy told the Hartford Courant on Friday.

Even some nutritionists were not on board with the change, with Connecticut dietitian Jill Castle telling WXIN-TV that chocolate milk has plenty of positives.

“From a nutrient profile, you’re getting calcium, vitamin D, potassium, phosphorus and other nutrients,” Castle told the station.

And as for the consumer side, kids appeared to share Castle's thought.

“Everyone likes it," seventh-grader Maddy Lanzi told NBC Connecticut. "The majority of the school wants it, and not many people like regular milk."

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

U.S. State Capitol Buildings
Alabama State Capitol (Montgomery, Ala.)(01 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) (credit:AP)
Alaska State Capitol (Juneau, Alaska)(02 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Miller) (credit:AP)
Arizona State Capitol (Phoenix)(03 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Friday, April 23, 2010. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
Arkansas State Capitol (Little Rock, Ark.)(04 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) (credit:AP)
California State Capitol (Sacramento, Calif.)(05 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File )
Colorado State Capitol (Denver)(06 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Connecticut State Capitol (Hartford, Conn.)(07 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1999. (AP Photo/Bob Child) (credit:AP)
Delaware State Capitol (Dover, Del.)(08 of50)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Alamy)
Florida State Capitol (Tallahassee, Fla.)(09 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Georgia State Capitol (Atlanta)(10 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Hawaii State Capitol (Honolulu)(11 of50)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Alamy)
Idaho State Capitol (Boise, Idaho)(12 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. (Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Illinois State Capitol (Springfield, Ill.)(13 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP )
Indiana State Capitol (Indianapolis)(14 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Iowa State Capitol (Des Moines, Iowa)(15 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Kansas State Capitol (Topeka, Kan.)(16 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, April 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) (credit:AP)
Kentucky State Capitol (Frankfort, Ky.)(17 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, April 12, 2006. (AP Photo/James Crisp) (credit:AP)
Louisiana State Capitol (Baton Rouge, La.)(18 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. (Matthew HINTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Maine State Capitol (Augusta, Me.)(19 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach) (credit:AP)
Maryland State House (Annapolis, Md.) (20 of50)
Open Image Modal
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Massachusetts State House (Boston)(21 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Michigan State Capitol (Lansing, Mich.)(22 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Minnesota State Capitol (St. Paul, Minn.)(23 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Friday, July 1, 2011. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Mississippi State Capitol (Jackson, Miss.)(24 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, June 10, 1999. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis) (credit:AP)
Missouri State Capitol (Jefferson City, Mo.)(25 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Friday, Oct. 16, 2000. (Photo credit should read ORLIN WAGNER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Montana State Capitol (Helena, Mont.)(26 of50)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Alamy)
Nebraska State Capitol (Lincoln, Neb.)(27 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1998. (AP Photo/S.E. McKee) (credit:AP)
Nevada State Capitol (Carson City, Nev.)(28 of50)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Education Images, UIG / Getty Images)
New Hampshire State House (Concord, N.H.)(29 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Friday, Dec. 28, 2001. (Todd Warshaw//Pool/Getty Images (credit:Getty File)
New Jersey State House (Trenton, N.J.)(30 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Friday, Aug. 13, 2004. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
New Mexico State Capitol (Santa Fe, N.M.)(31 of50)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Alamy)
New York State Capitol (Albany, N.Y.)(32 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Sunday, March 16, 2008. (Photo by Daniel Barry/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
North Carolina State Capitol (Raleigh, N.C.)(33 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured in 1930. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
North Dakota State Capitol (Bismarck, N.D.)(34 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, April 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Dale Wetzel) (credit:AP)
Ohio Statehouse (Columbus, Ohio)(35 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. (Photo by Mike Munden/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Oklahoma State Capitol (Oklahoma City)(36 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (credit:AP)
Oregon State Capitol (Salem, Ore.)(37 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Friday, May 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file) (credit:AP)
Pennsylvania State Capitol (Harrisburg, Pa.)(38 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, June 28, 2012. (BRIGITTE DUSSEAU/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty File)
Rhode Island State House (Providence, R.I.)(39 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 1945. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
South Carolina State House (Columbia, S.C.)(40 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
South Dakota State Capitol (Pierre, S.D.)(41 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Doug Dreyer) (credit:AP )
Tennessee State Capitol (Nashville, Tenn.)(42 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1941. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Texas State Capitol (Austin, Texas)(43 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (MIRA OBERMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Utah State Capitol (Salt Lake City)(44 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Thursday, March 15, 2001. (GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Vermont State House (Montpelier, Vt.)(45 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on April 9, 1953. (AP Photo/Francis C. Curtin) (credit:AP)
Virginia State Capitol (Richmond, Va.)(46 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Washington State Capitol (Olympia, Wash.)(47 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte) (credit:AP)
West Virginia State Capitol (Charleston, W.V.)(48 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on July 2, 2010. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Wisconsin State Capitol (Madison, Wis.)(49 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Wyoming State Capitol (Cheyenne, Wyo.)(50 of50)
Open Image Modal
Pictured on Tuesday, March 6, 2001. (Photo by Michael Smith/Newsmakers) (credit:Getty File)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip