Hilliard’s Chocolate bars are a staple of the club fundraising efforts at Milton High School. The small white boxes have always been a welcomed sight whether in class, lunch, or passing time.

But this year they seemed to have vanished. Why? The reason is simple: the chocolate bars do not comply with Massachusetts’ nutrition standards for competitive foods sold at school. Foods sold on campus during the school day must be nurturing and nutritious, and the bars are simply not.

The chocolate boxes are also considered a distraction because many students interrupt class and leave advisory to buy chocolate, which is not allowed.

Milton Public School guidelines follow these standards to promote wellness across all Milton schools. Ms. Perez, the director of food services across Milton Public Schools, said, “the only issue is that it is sold during school hours. You can sell 30 mins before or after the school day and then it is not considered 'competitive food.'

Mrs. Cahill explained further that these guidelines have always existed; they are just being more strictly enforced this year. These chocolate bars can still be sold after the school day is over and outside of school; however, during school hours, it may be smart to think of alternative ways to raise money that are either nutritional or not food-related.