Local Success Stories
School milk in 8-ounce plastic bottles - A big success
In late fall of 2003, Galliker Dairies initiated a pilot test in two small south-central Pennsylvania school districts to test student acceptability of milk in 8-ounce plastic bottles. Faye Butts and Nancy Simpson, foodservice directors in the Central Fulton and Fannett-Metal school districts respectively, were both interested in making a change to a newer look for school milk. They each implemented the packaging change for all of their schools, from elementary through high school.
The flavors offered in the pilot include 2 percent chocolate and 2 percent white. Galliker's packages additional milk flavors in 8-ounce for retail sales. The dairy is willing to make the additional flavors available to schools if and when more schools express interest in making the conversion to plastic bottles.
Both directors have seen an increase in meal participation as well as milk sales since the change from paper to plastic packaging. Students in elementary, middle and high school all reported the milk tasted better in bottles, was colder, and was easier to open.
Interestingly, Fannett-Metal high school experienced a big drop in milk sales when the milk delivery was short one day, and paper cartons had to be substituted for the plastic bottles. The students chose not to buy the milk when it was not available in 8-ounce plastic bottles.
The recycling of the plastic bottles has not been a problem in either district. The volume is identical to the paper cartons, and thus continues to be disposed of in the standard school refuse. Over the holidays, teachers and students at Central Fulton joined the recycling efforts by turning the plastic bottles into decorative snowmen.
The additional cost of plastic versus paper was absorbed in each district's budget rather than pass the cost on to the students. The additional meal and milk sales have helped balance the increased expenditure for plastic packaging. Foodservice directors Butts and Simpson report an anticipated lower price per unit from Galliker's when other districts convert from paper to plastic. The directors are enthusiastically sharing their positive experiences in the conversion to a new look of school milk with colleagues.