School milk resources

School Milk Knowledge Hub

Find help with promoting, supporting and implementing school milk programmes in your region

On this page you will find links to a range of information to assist with the development and implementation of school milk programmes. If you have information you would like to share, please contact us

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Bulletin of the IDF N° 531/2024

The contribution of school milk programmes to the nutrition of children worldwide – Edition 2024

Milk and milk products have been a staple in schools for many years, often featured as part of dedicated school milk programmes or integrated into broader school feeding initiatives. These programmes are recognized as crucial social protection mechanisms, offering vital nutrition and education to children while simultaneously supporting economic and social development for the broader community. Such broad and interrelated benefits clearly align with the United Nations’ global Sustainable Development Goals.

Collecting comprehensive global survey data is essential in order to understand programme operations, evaluate efficacy, identify gaps and track changes over time. To address these needs, the International Dairy Federation has provided insights over the past 31 years, with the present report compiling results from the 2023 IDF Survey. This report details the current scope of school milk and feeding programmes that include milk and milk products, including design, distribution, management and resilience during crises like COVID-19.

There is increasing recognition of the importance of evidence-based nutrition for school feeding programmes that emphasize healthy eating patterns. This bulletin includes an updated literature review on the nutritional impact of school milk, but research in this field remains limited. As a result, an umbrella evaluation framework for school feeding programmes that include milk has been developed to encourage future implementation research.

Programmes around the world

School milk and broader feeding programmes play a vital role in supporting the health and nutrition of schoolchildren around the world.

A wide variety of programmes are in place—some dedicated solely to school milk, others integrated into broader school feeding initiatives—and their number continues to grow each year. These programmes are implemented in diverse ways, ranging from national and regional schemes to those managed by individual schools and local milk providers.

Discover more about school milk in your region and explore how these programmes are making a difference globally.

Dairy in global guidelines

Milk is a nutrient-dense food that adds significant value to school meals and supports the nourishment of students. Highly palatable and widely accepted, milk—along with other dairy products—plays an important role in children’s diets. .

Reflecting this contribution, milk and dairy are frequently included in food-based dietary guidelines around the world

But what exactly are global dietary guidelines, and why do they matter?

Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are developed to inform public policies on nutrition, health, agriculture, and education. They provide evidence-based recommendations on foods, food groups, and dietary patterns that help individuals meet their nutritional needs, promote overall health, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

This reflects the overwhelming scientific consensus that dairy foods are part of healthy dietary patterns and are associated with positive health outcomes.

Typically, FBDGs propose a set of recommendations in terms of foods, food groups, and dietary patterns to provide the required nutrients to promote overall health and prevent chronic diseases. Yet, many countries are now moving towards more holistic perspectives by addressing food combinations (meals), eating modalities, food safety considerations, lifestyle, and sustainability aspects in their FBDGs.

The FAO database on dietary guidelines show that currently 100 countries have dietary guidelines with 100% of them advising the consumption of dairy. This is in support of the overwhelming evidence that the consumption of dairy foods are part of healthy dietary patterns and are associated with positive health outcomes.

Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt offer essential nutrients that help nourish people throughout life.

Read more about global insights on school feeding and recommendations on dairy consumption, with specific reference to school feeding and nutrition:

Useful links to information

Get in touch with organizations promoting, supporting and/or implementing school milk programs in around the world

We want to hear from you! If you would like to suggest an addition to this list, please contact us

Educational support & resources

Many school milk programmes are enriched by educational activities that go beyond the classroom. These may include farm visits, dairy tastings, cooking workshops, interactive games, and hands-on lessons, all designed to make learning about nutrition fun and memorable.

Such experiences help reconnect children with agriculture and deepen their understanding of healthy eating habits. They also introduce important topics like local food systems, organic farming, sustainable production, recycling, and food waste.

Teachers and parents often play a key role in these initiatives, serving as role models for healthy lifestyles. Some programmes even distribute physical education kits to schools to promote active living alongside good nutrition.

💡 Do you have fun, educational materials about dairy farming or nutritious dairy foods that can be used in classrooms? We’d love to see them—please share your resources with us!