Alabama Schools Striving to Serve Lactose-Intolerant Needs Despite Challenges


Auburn, Dec. 10, 2003 --- Alabama’s school systems are working within existing federal 
lunchroom guidelines to address the problems associated with lactose intolerance.  

In the Montgomery public schools, for example, lactose-intolerant school children can ask for 
100-percent fruit juice instead.

The school system offered lactose-free milk for a while, but there were few takers, said Elise 
Todd, purchasing coordinator for the Montgomery public schools.

 “Most parents didn’t provide it at home, so the children were not used to it,” she said.

The Montgomery public school’s strategy underscores the challenge facing many school lunch 
programs under current federal guidelines, said Dr. Robert Keith, Alabama Cooperative 
Extension System nutritionist and Auburn University professor of nutrition and food science. 

“While fruit juices, with the one exception of fortified orange juice, supply vitamin C as well as 
some other minerals, they do not compare with cow’s milk as a calcium source,” he said.  “Milk 
has the added advantage of being a very good source of high quality protein.
 
“If school children aren’t consuming milk or some kind of fortified alternative such as orange juice, 
you’re going to have to find some product to replace milk,” he added.  “But if school children 
refuse to eat dairy products, they have few alternatives left --- at least, under the current federal 
guidelines.”

The Montgomery public schools provide other dairy sources, such as cheese and cheese with 
macaroni.  But due to the fat content associated with these products, federal guidelines limit 
these servings.  

In Huntsville, school nutritionists believe they’ve found a viable dairy alternative in sweet 
acidophilus milk.  

“Sweet acidophilus really is good,” said Jennifer Flynn, child nutrition specialist with the Huntsville 
city schools.  “It has a richer flavor than skim milk --- which is surprising considering that it 
contains only a little more milk fat.”

This marks the first year the Huntsville city schools have offered sweet acidophilus milk as an 
alternative to milk.

Children who refuse sweet acidophilus milk still have the option of purchasing fruit juice.  

Students in the Jefferson County schools can receive soymilk, but only with a doctor’s dietary 
prescription.  The school system stresses the importance of calcium as an essential nutrient, and 
milk is incorporated in all meals. 

“We feel very strongly that children need that calcium option,” said Maureen Alexander, Child 
nutrition director with the Jefferson County Board of Education.  

Middle school and high school students, however, can receive a juice product or tea in addition to 
their milk.  The school system also is making an effort to offer other calcium sources --- dark, 
leafy vegetables; cheese and yogurt, for example --- as part of its salad bar selection.  

Still, as Alexander stresses, ensuring children receive adequate amounts of calcium remains a 
challenge.
[Source: Dr. Robert Keith, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Nutritionist and Auburn 
University Professor of Nutrition and Food Science, (334) 844-3273; Writer: Jim 
Langcuster, Extension Communications Specialist, News and Public Affairs, (334) 844-
5686.]