Senators Max Baucus and Charles Grassley of the Senate Finance Committee have proposed an excise tax on sugar-filled drinks as an initiative to curb childhood obesity, and flavored milk has been caught in the crossfire.
When most people hear about this idea they only think of sugared sodas, so it seems plausible, says ACSH's Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. But having the tax extended to include chocolate milk is undesirable collateral damage.
It s important for kids to drink milk, and if flavored milk is what it takes to get them to drink it, this will be financially burdensome on families or discourage kids from getting necessary nutrition from milk, says ACSH's Jeff Stier.
ACSH's Dr. Ruth Kava adds: Flavored milks have all the nutrients of regular milk, so it s a great beverage for kids to drink. See also: Jeff Stier discussing this issue during his appearance on CNBC.