November, 01 2010, 03:13pm EDT
New School Beverage Study Shows Need for Child Nutrition Bill
Statement of CSPI Director of Nutrition Policy Margo G. Wootan
WASHINGTON
A new study shows that unhealthy beverages were still in almost half of elementary schools in the 2008-2009 school year. While the volume of sugar drinks sold in elementary schools is much lower than in high schools, unhealthy beverages--and foods--don't belong in any schools.
Congress has the chance to change this by passing the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act when it returns for the lame duck session. That bipartisan bill passed the Senate unanimously in August and includes a provision to get junk food and soda out of schools.
Unlike a decade ago, improving school foods is no longer controversial. The child nutrition bill has the support of not only public health organizations, but also school groups and food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
Given the sky-high rates of childhood obesity, Congress needs to support parents and protect kids by passing the child nutrition bill to finally get sugary drinks and junk food out of all schools.
Since 1971, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has been a strong advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science.
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What actually threatens American workers?\n\u274c Anti-union, anti-worker propaganda like this\n\ud83d\udcb0 Corps that put profits over people\n\u26d1\ufe0f Safety standards not being met\n\n@GovAbbott & @GovernorKayIvey sound more like corporate lobbyists than governors here. @UAW backs American workers!— (@)
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