Res 0849-2019

By Council Members Salamanca and Kallos Whereas, According to the United States (U.S) National Library of Medicine, lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar in dairy products including milk; and Whereas, The U.S. National Library of Medicine also reports that lactose products may cause individuals who are lactose intolerant to experience abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and diarrhea within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consumption; and Whereas, While there is limited New York City specific data on the number of lactose intolerant individuals, about 65 percent of the human population has a decreased ability to digest lactose following infancy, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine; and Whereas, The Nemours Foundation reports that individuals of African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American backgrounds are more likely to develop lactose intolerance at a young age; and Whereas, During school year 2017-18, Asian, Black and Hispanic students represented about 16 percent, 26 percent and 41 percent respectively, of the New York City Department of Education's (DOE) student population; and Whereas, Despite the prevalence of lactose intolerance and its impact on lactose intolerant individuals, New York City's Department of Education (DOE) do not require schools to provide lactose-free milk to students who are lactose intolerant; and Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to offer lactose-free milk as a milk alternative to students upon request by a parent or guardian. LS #9110 4/8/19 KJ