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McCormick said: “Children need whole milk in their diet. But if children don't consume whole milk at school, they won't have an appetite or desire for whole milk later. This was a huge blow to dairy farmers here in Pennsylvania.”

It wasn't the first time McCormick talked about whole milk on the campaign trail. In fact, he has made the issue a focus.

Back in August, after attending Penn State University's AG Progress Days, Pennsylvania's largest outdoor agricultural show, McCormick told reporters that returning whole milk to schools was “a top priority for Pennsylvania,” adding, the problem is “so obvious” and “the science is undeniable.”

Whole milk has not been served in schools since 2012. That's because of a 2010 law banning whole milk from the National School Lunch Program, which provides reduced-price or free lunches in nearly 100,000 schools. Former First Lady Michelle Obama championed the law in her “Let's Move!” program. Campaign to combat childhood obesity.

The 2010 edition of the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” urged people to increase dairy consumption, but recommended replacing whole milk and whole dairy products with fat-free or low-fat options to reduce solid fat intake.

However, new research suggests that whole milk may be healthier than low-fat milk.

Thiele said bringing whole milk back to school would be good for children's nutrition and would keep dairy farmers “alive and thriving.”

He said he believes current policies are having a slow impact on dairy farmers, who risk losing a generation or more of whole milk drinkers. From an economic point of view, whole milk is also better for Thiele. Dairy farmers like him are paid based on the butterfat content and protein content of their milk.

Sen. Bob Casey, who is running against McCormick, signed on in September to co-sponsor the Whole Milk for Heathy Kids Act of 2023. Pennsylvania's junior senator, Democrat John Fetterman, was one of the first co-sponsors to sign the bill in June 2023.

In August, Casey told NBC News that he was suspicious of “the dietary guidelines for children” and that he wanted to ensure that any decision he made regarding whole milk was “based on science that is in the best interests of children.” “.

He changed his mind on the bill after meeting with farmers across Pennsylvania. According to the Center for Dairy Excellence, there are about 5,000 dairy farmers in Pennsylvania.

Thiele said he was “glad” that Casey had “finally” agreed to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, as he said it was important for the bill to have bipartisan support.

Eleven Republican senators, five Democrats and one independent have signed on as co-sponsors.