USDA to Replace Junk Food In Schools With "Smart Snacks"

28 June 2013 --- US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that under USDA's new "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards, America's students will be offered healthier food options during the school day.

"Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children," said Secretary Vilsack. "Parents and schools work hard to give our youngsters the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong, and providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines, and snack bars will support their great efforts."

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools -- beyond the federally-supported meals programs. The "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards, to be published this week in the Federal Register, reflect USDA's thoughtful consideration and response to the nearly 250,000 comments received on the proposal earlier this year.

"Smart Snacks in School" carefully balances science-based nutrition guidelines with practical and flexible solutions to promote healthier eating on campus, drawing on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and existing voluntary standards already implemented by thousands of schools around the country, as well as healthy food and beverage offerings already available in the marketplace.

Highlights of the "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards include:
•More of the foods we should encourage. Like the new school meals, the standards require healthier foods, more whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and leaner protein.
•Less of the foods we should avoid. Food items are lower in fat, sugar, and sodium and provide more of the nutrients kids need.
•Targeted standards. Allowing variation by age group for factors such as portion size and caffeine content.
•Flexibility for important traditions. Preserving the ability for parents to send their kids to school with homemade lunches or treats for activities such as birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations; and allowing schools to continue traditions like fundraisers and bake sales.
•Ample time for implementation. Schools and food and beverage companies will have an entire school year to make the necessary changes, and USDA will offer training and technical assistance every step of the way.
•Reasonable limitations on when and where the standards apply. Ensuring that standards only affect foods that are sold on school campus during the school day. Foods sold at afterschool sporting events or other activities will not be subject to these requirements.
•Flexibility for state and local communities. Allowing significant local and regional autonomy by only establishing minimum requirements for schools. States and schools that have stronger standards than what is being proposed will be able to maintain their own policies.

USDA is focused on improving childhood nutrition and empowering families to make healthier food choices by providing science-based information and advice, while expanding the availability of healthy food.

America's students now have healthier and more nutritious school meals due to improved nutrition standards implemented as a result of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
• USDA's MyPlate symbol and the resources at ChooseMyPlate.gov provide quick, easy reference tools for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and communities.
• USDA launched a new $5 million Farm to School grant program in 2012 to increase the amount of healthy, local food in schools.
• USDA awarded $5.2 million in grants to provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition foodservice professionals and support stronger school nutrition education programs.

Collectively these policies and actions will help combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children; a top priority for the Obama Administration. The interim final rule announced today is an important component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to combat the challenge of childhood obesity.

CSPI Director of Nutrition Policy Margo G. Wootan responded by stating: “As a result of the updated standards announced by USDA, children will be protected from the sugar drinks and junk food that tempt them through school vending machines, a la carte lines in cafeterias, and school stores and snack bars. USDA's action is much needed given children's generally unhealthy diets and high rates of obesity. Studies show that unhealthy snacks and drinks sold in schools undermine children's diets and increase their weights.”

“Full-calorie sodas have already largely disappeared from schools, thanks to a number of state and school district policies, a threatened lawsuit, and an agreement the beverage industry struck with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. USDA's new beverage standards will go further and exclude Gatorade-type "sports drinks" and other mid-calorie beverages (allowing no more than 40 calories per eight ounces, in containers no larger than 12 ounces; 8 ounces of soda typically have about 100 calories). A typical 12-ounce Gatorade has all the added sugars most children and teen girls should consume in a whole day and two-thirds of the recommended amount for teen boys.”

In response to the USDA announcement, the American Beverage Association (ABA) issued the following statement: “We commend the USDA for its thorough work in developing the first-ever national standards for all foods and beverages in schools which largely follow the guidelines implemented voluntarily by our industry beginning in 2006. As a result of the industry’s voluntary efforts, we have reduced beverage calories shipped to schools by 90 percent.” Research published last year in the American Journal of Public Health confirmed that ABA member companies are no longer offering full-calorie soft drinks to schools nationwide and beverage calories shipped to schools were reduced by 90 percent between 2004 and the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Beginning in 2006, the beverage industry voluntarily implemented School Beverage Guidelines that were developed with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation). The guidelines removed full-calorie soft drinks and replaced them with more low-calorie, portion-controlled beverages.