Senate Eyes Stricter School Lunch Standards

Yesterday, Senators introduced and began discussions on legislation that would enforce stricter regulations on unhealthy snack foods and beverages found in public schools. 'Unhealthy weight, even obesity, among children has increased dramatically over the past 30 to 40 years,' Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. Harkin, chairman of the Agriculture Committee introduced legislation that will update school nutrition mandates that are almost 30 years old. The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act would update nutrition standards for snack foods sold in school cafeterias alongside the regular school meals, and would apply those standards everywhere on school grounds, including in vending machines and school stores.

Although junk foods are not allowed in the cafeteria, federal law permits the sale of junk foods through vending machines and stores anywhere on school grounds including just outside the cafeteria, though some local school districts may have tougher measures in places. According to a Government Accountability Office report, 99 percent of high schools, 97 percent of middle schools and 83 percent of elementary schools have vending machines, school stores or snack bars. The most common items sold out of school vending machines, school." Consumer News, 3/6/2007.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/senate_school_lunch.html