Animal protection group advocates for alternative milk in schools

A food fight is unfolding in New Mexico.

On one side of the cafeteria: advocates arguing schools in the state should have funds to offer plant-based milk products, with large populations of New Mexicans who are predisposed to lactose intolerance.

On the opposite side: some cattle industry proponents pushing back against the idea of their milk cartons sharing shelf space with plant-based alternatives.

“Just don’t call it milk,” said state Sen. Candy Spence Ezzell, a Roswell Republican and a “damn proud” rancher with about 80 head of cattle she raises for meat.

School districts across the country that receive federal dollars to feed their students long have faced roadblocks to stocking plant-based or lactose-free milk, which come with higher costs than dairy milk. Some require children t