The tiny, half-pint cartons of milk served with millions of school lunches nationwide may soon be scarce in some cafeterias, with districts across the country scrambling to find alternatives. The problem is not a shortage of milk itself, but the cardboard cartons used to package and serve it, according to dairy industry suppliers and state officials. The shortage is affecting the company’s ability to “fully supply some school milk orders,” according to Matt Herrick, spokesperson for the International Dairy Foods Association. In Clarence, New York, local school district officials told parents they plan to provide “small bottles of water or cups of milk with lids” if the cartons run out. In Everett, Washington, school officials told parents to expect a disruption in cafeteria milk supply that could “range up to several months.”Herrick said U.S. milk processors are working with other package suppliers to resolve the shortage.

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Persons: North America ”, “, Matt Herrick, —, Jayme Taylor, ”, ” Herrick Organizations: International Dairy Foods Association . School, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Nutrition Service, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Lake Forest , Illinois, North America, New York , Pennsylvania, California, Washington, U.S, Clarence , New York, Lake Stevens , Washington, Seattle, “, Everett , Washington