Democratic majority wants to determine the fat content in daycare milk. Chocolate, anyone?

Minority Republicans in the Appropriations Committee just blasted a proposal that would set standards for juice and milk at day care centers. The Republicans warned that the bill, set to pass along party lines and head to the Senate, would meddle too much in families. Others warned that prohibiting milk with a higher that 1-percent fat content is not a good idea. “There is a lot of controversy over what kind of milk children should be getting or not getting,” said Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby. “I know that there is a lot of discussion now with many nutritional people in this country about whether 2-percent milk is better than 1 percent milk and vice versa. And I just think for us to be pigeon-holing this kind of thing now and changing our minds as we go, which we do often, I’ve noticed with this kind of nutrition information, I don’t think that does justice to the children of this state.” Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, noting that the bill includes so-called family daycare homes, warned the bill could become confusing, with parents giving their children one type of milk, while they would be limited to giving other children 1-percent milk. “The bill is a little twisted,” Lavielle said. “I’m amazed that we have a bill that goes into this amount of intrusion and depth and detail and sorting all this out.” Rep. Terrie Wood, R-Darien: “I think this is an over-reach, just very simply.” She quoted television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz as saying skim milk only contains sugar, while 2-percent is better for the body. “We’ve designated 1-percent in this bill, yet – and I have heard other places too – yet 2-percent is a better balance of carbohydrates and fat in the milk. So we’d have to be re-doing this bill in a couple of years, with the new research. I know some wonderful child daycare workers and heads of schools who really have great common sense know how to do this on their own without our telling them what to do.” Rep. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, added a touch of levity: “I’m going to offer a chocolate amendment,” Miner said, then suggesting that he will wait for the House debate, if the bill gets there before the midnight May 7 adjournment deadline.

Here’s a summary of the bill:

“This bill prohibits child day care centers, group day care homes, and family day care homes from providing (1) a beverage with artificial or natural added sweeteners to a child in their care and (2) any juice to a child eight months old or younger. The facility may provide juice to a child over eight months old if (1) it is 100% juice and (2) the child receives no more than six ounces per day.

The bill prohibits these facilities from providing milk with more than 1% milk fat to a child age two or older in their care unless a higher fat content is medically required for a child as documented by the child’s medical provider.

The prohibitions do not apply to beverages, juice, or milk (including human breast milk) that a facility receives for a child in its care from the child’s parent or guardian.

The bill also requires the facilities to (1) make water available and easily accessible to children in their care throughout the day, including at all meals; (2) have drinkable water supplies in or near classrooms and playrooms; and (3) provide individual disposable drinking cups that are easily accessible to children in their care except when water fountains are used.

By law, these facilities must be licensed by the Department of Public Health.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2014″