Connecticut has moved a step closer to banning the sale of “junk food” in all public schools. Last Wednesday, the state Senate passed a school nutrition bill by a vote of 23 to 11 that would ban vending machines, cafeterias and school stores from selling most snacks in all public schools and soda in elementary and middle schools.
The bill has been passed on to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who said last week that she has reservations about the measure and planned to read it closely, Adam Liegeot, a spokesperson for the governor said.
A compromise had been reached to allow diet soda and sports drinks, such as Gatorade, to be sold in the state’s high schools. One politician criticized the compromise in a news report on a Connecticut radio station saying that diet soda was “poisoning” children. Soft drink companies—including Coke and Pepsi—had lobbied against the bill.
The house passed the bill—considered the most far-reaching ban on soda and snacks in public schools in the country—earlier this month. The bill also calls for more time for physical activity for students in grades K-5.
A least 23 states have introduced similar bills specific to vending machines in schools, including a recent action by New Jersey.
A New Jersey state Senate panel approved a package of measures on Monday that would ban the sale of soda and “junk food” in public elementary and middle schools. The measures heads to the full Senate for consideration, according to news reports.
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