ALBANY, N.Y. – A possible ban on chocolate milk in New York City public schools has led to swift backlash from upstate dairy farmers and congressional lawmakers who fear it could negatively impact children's health and the state's economy.

A spokesman for the city's Education Department — which is weighing the ban over health concerns for children — said no final decisions have been made. The story was first reported by the New York Post on Sunday.

"Our priority is the health and well-being of our students, and every day, we offer a variety of healthy, delicious, and free meal options that exceed USDA standards," the department said in a statement.

But the idea isn't sitting well with the state Farm Bureau, which argues a ban on flavored milk would have a negative consequence on children's health and hurt the more than 4,000 dairy farms in the state.

David Fisher, president of the New York Farm Bureau, wrote a letter to City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, voicing his concern over the potential ban.

"New York Farm Bureau appreciates that they have the best interest of students’ health at heart, but removing flavored milk is the unhealthy choice and will do a disservice to the thousands of students who depend on their school to provide a healthy, balanced diet," the letter said.

Low milk prices in recent years have made it difficult for some dairy farms to survive in the state, and recent trade disputes have only exacerbated the issue.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers headed by Democratic Rep. Anthony Brindisi wrote a similar a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Banning flavored milk hurts our kids and our hardworking farmers,” Brindisi, who represents the state's 22nd Congressional District, which spans central New York and parts of the Southern Tier, said in a statement.

Limited options

This isn't the first time New York City has sought to limit milk options for students in public schools.

In 2006, the district began serving only low-fat and nonfat milk options, the Post reported.

And current regulations require two milk options be served to students during lunch. Choices include low-fat and nonfat white milk as well nonfat chocolate milk.

But a blanket ban on chocolate milk over health concerns would have an undesired effect on children, depriving them of important nutrients, Brindisi said in his letter.

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"Over two-thirds of milk served in school is flavored, which represents an essential way that kids get the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development," said the letter, which was also signed by Democratic Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney and Antonio Delgado and Republican Elise Stefanik.

Another blow for farmers?

A ban on chocolate milk would be another blow to farmers in the state who have fallen on tough times in recent years.

New York is one of the largest dairy producers in the nation, but low milk prices have made it difficult for some dairy farms to stay in business.

New York has sought to bolster the industry by establishing school-to-farm lunch programs that put local farms in touch with city schools to serve healthier options.

But the number of farms in the state has continued to decline since the 1980s, according to the Farm Bureau, and recent trade disputes between the United States and countries like China have some farmers on edge.

A Farmer Workers Bill of Rights approved by state lawmakers this year has organizations like the Farm Bureau worried that the state's declining agriculture industry will only continue to slip.

"While we understand the intent is to serve healthy meals to children, this ban will have the opposite effect on children who receive meals at school and the nutrients they receive, as well as substantial economic impact on New York dairy farmers that are already experiencing hardship," Fisher said in his letter.

If the proposed ban is approved, New York City would be the third city to ban chocolate milk, joining San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Follow Chad Arnold on Twitter: @ChadGArnold