Jun 20, 2005
Parents, educators and government officials are increasingly turning to community-based efforts to improve the nutritional content of foods served in schools despite considerable resistance from the food and soft drink industries, Reuters reports. Health advocates say the "momentum" to alter school menus is building, led by local and state efforts to reduce childhood obesity. For instance, Kentucky schools are restricting the amount of Pizza Hut products allowed in school cafeterias, and students in Buffalo, N.Y., receive prizes for eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables. However, such efforts have met with resistance from the food and beverage industries. A legislative measure in Kansas this year that would have required schools to stock vending machines with healthy foods and drinks and would have prohibited teachers from rewarding children with candy failed because of intense lobbying from businesses including Coca-Cola Co. and Pepsi Bottling Group. However, a number of promising federal efforts may improve the nutrition in schools. For instance, the federal Child Nutrition Act requires all school districts to develop comprehensive wellness plans by 2006, and the government's new dietary guidelines released in January will force many school districts to include more whole grains and fresh produce on cafeteria menus. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting a study of 400 schools across the nation to determine if schools are meeting federal nutrition standards. A previous study found that few schools met recommended nutrition guidelines (Gillam, Reuters/Yahoo! News, 6/20/05).