Center for Science in the Public Interest issues school food report cards
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has issued school food report cards this month evaluating school policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on food and drinks sold "a la carte" in cafeterias, snacks in vending machines, and food and drinks available in school stores and at fundraisers. Overall, 31 states received sub-par grades of either D or F. North Carolina, for example, received a D because of several weaknesses in state nutrition policies, according to Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director for CSPI. Two of the reasons for North Carolina's low grade were no portion-size limits on drinks and the availability of sports drinks and soft drinks all day to students. "We're working aggressively with beverage vendors to meet recommended guidelines for the upcoming year," says Lynn Hoggard, an administrator with North Carolina Child Nutrition Services. "It would take state board action or legislation from the general assembly to regulate beverage vendor sales," says Ms. Hoggard. Vendors have proven to be very profitable for schools. In South Carolina, the center applauded the state's nutrition efforts, but gave it a C- because the state only applies the guidelines in kindergarten through grade five. "If it extended its policy to middle and high schools, it would have gotten a very good grade," says Ms. Wootan. Kentucky garnered an A-, the highest grade given by CSPI, because it stocks school vending machines with bottled water and dried fruit instead of chips, cakes, and soda. CSPI officials are optimistic about the future of school nutrition, starting with last month's announcement by soft drink makers of a deal to limit the types of beverages sold in schools. Furthermore, there is a bill currently before Congress that would require higher standards on foods sold outside the school lunch program. "Parents are sick and tired of all the junk food in schools. They want Congress to stand with them, not with Coke and Pepsi and the snack food industry," says Wootan.
Charlotte ObserverBy Pam Kelley and Peter St. Onge
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