Every day, about 40 percent of students buy snacks at school, and nearly 70 percent buy sugary drinks. Many snacks and drinks available for sale at school — through vending machines, à la carte lines, school stores and fundraisers — are high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt, and low in nutritional value.
That’s why in February 2013, for the first time in 30 years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed national nutrition standards for all foods and drinks sold on school campuses. As required by the federal rulemaking process, the proposed standards were open for public comment through April 9.
NEA HIN weighed in to express our belief that strong nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools will make help improve the diet and long-term health of millions of children across the country. In particular, NEA HIN supports:
- Having standards that apply to all snacks and beverages sold in schools, across the school campus, and throughout the school day (until at least 30 minutes after the last class ends).
- The sale of foods that limit calories, fats, sugars, and salt, as well as provide a positive nutritional benefit, such as be a fruit, vegetable, or whole grain, or naturally contain meaningful amounts of a nutrient of priority public health concern (i.e., calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).
- Disallowing the sale of sugary drinks, like full-calorie sodas and sports drinks, during the school day.
- Requiring that all beverages sold in elementary, middle and high schools are caffeine-free, consistent with Institute of Medicine recommendations.
- Having potable water readily accessible to students at no charge during school lunch and breakfast meal service.
- Allowing states and local schools to put in place additional or stronger standards for snack foods and beverages sold in schools, as long as those standards are consistent with the minimum federal standards.
Highlights from NEA HIN’s comments were mentioned in a recent Education Week article, and readers can view our full comment by clicking here.
If you’re interested in learning about how to take action for healthier foods and drinks in your school, please visit our sister site, www.BagtheJunk.org, which has free information, resources, and advocacy tools for readers.
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