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Relates to HJM 18, Availability of Nutritious
Food in School
Responses
Received From
State
Department of Education (SDE)
Department
of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
Senate Bill 468
directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish rules to control the
sale of competitive foods in public schools. The rules shall prohibit the sale
of foods of minimal nutritional value in the food service areas during the
lunch period. The sale of other competitive foods may be allowed in the food
service area during the lunch period only if all income from the sale accrues
to the benefit of a nonprofit school food service, school or school-approved
student organization.
SB 468 requires
beverages other than water and one hundred percent fruit or vegetable juices not to be
accessible to elementary school students during the school day. Availability of
other beverages will be limited to after-school functions as determined appropriate
by the local school board of a school district. All vending machines located on
school grounds shall feature graphics featuring only one hundred percent fruit
or vegetable juices, water or educational programs.
Current vendor contracts will not be effected until the expiration of the contract or
Significant
Issues
The SDE provided the following:
The SBE currently does not have any regulations
in place that control the sale of competitive foods in public schools
Federal regulations indicate that state agencies
and school districts shall establish such rules or regulations as are necessary
to control the sale of foods in competition with lunches served under the
National School Lunch Program.
When children are taught in the classroom about
good nutrition and the value of healthy food choices but are surrounded by
vending machines, snack bars, school stores and a la carte sales offering low
nutrient density options, they receive the message that good nutrition is
merely an academic exercise that is not supported by the school administration
and is therefore not important to their health or education.
Nutrition clearly has a major impact on children
– on their health, their ability to learn and on their potential for becoming
healthy and productive adults. Research
indicates that good nutrition and physical activity for students can lead to
better academic performance, higher test scores and fewer behavioral problems
as well as establishing lifelong healthy habits
By establishing healthy habits early in life,
children can dramatically reduce their health risks and increase their chances
for longer, more productive lives4.
Food offered in public schools via vending machines
and other venues outside of the school food service control are relatively low
in nutrient density and relatively high in fat, added sugars and calories.
Eating foods and beverages with little or no nutritional value may relate to
children’s inability to focus and concentrate on their schoolwork. When children
replace school meals with these foods, there is the risk that their daily
dietary intake will be inadequate.
Healthy eating patterns in childhood and adolescence
promote childhood health, growth and intellectual development especially if
combined with adequate physical activity.
Obesity in children is a growing national
problem and is related to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and
heart disease. Some of the foods and
beverages (items not controlled by school food services) currently being
offered in public schools may be contributing to obesity
All vending machines should feature graphics
featuring only 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices, water as well as other
appropriate food items, i.e. milk, to send the correct nutrition message to students.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
An increase in the sale of competitive foods may
have an adverse effect in student participation in the school lunch program. This can cause a reduction in cash and
commodity support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for
school meals.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
The SBE will have to
promulgate the rules to control the sale of competitive foods in public
schools.
RELATIONSHIP
SB 468 relates to HJM 18,
Availability of Nutritious Food in School requesting a study to identify the
health and educational benefits of selective nutrition choices in food and
beverages in public schools.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Restrictions in SB 468 will eliminate milk as an
option at the elementary level.
The SDE notes Section 5 may be contradictory to
USDE National School Lunch Regulations because it will allow contracts between
a school and a food or beverage vendor to remain lawful until the expiration of
the contact or July l, 2004.