NEW BERLIN – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer visited Chenango County Friday to announce a new push to change outdated U.S. Department of Agriculture rules that are restricting the ability of public schools to offer Greek yogurt to students.

Standing with employees and management at Chobani's plant in New Berlin the senator said he had contacted the Department of Agriculture to demand a review and update of the agency's rules.

“Greek yogurt is put at a disadvantage because it is healthy,” said Schumer.

Schumer said the new push to change the outdated USDA rules would increase student health and food options, while bolstering the New York dairy industry. He said the rules essentially failed to account for all the protein offered in Greek yogurt.

“Yogurt is loaded with protein, which is very good for everyone but particularly for kids. It is very, very nutritious, and tasty,” said Schumer. “The percentage of Greek yogurt that is sold in America is higher than the percentage of the old-time yogurts, it's 52 percent.”

The senator complimented Chobani with making Greek yogurt main stream since its founding in 2005 and said the USDA needed to respond to the public's changing preferences that sought healthier options.

Chobani's founder, Hamdi Ulukaya, did not attend the announcement but made a statement following the event.

“Our nation's schoolchildren deserve the most delicious and nutritious food options out there, and we simply can't let outdated policies prevent that. Period,” said Ulukaya. “There's been a lot of progress in the natural food movement over the past decade, and it's very important that regulations keep up to serve the best interest of kids and families.”

The senator's actions come after he and congress made other attempts to make the USDA rules more fair.

The USDA was supposed to accommodate adding Greek yogurt to school's nutrition programs in 2015 but that move was stifled by the outdated protein crediting system.