New Jersey yesterday became the latest state to move forward on addressing the epidemic of childhood obesity by banning the sale of soda and “junk foods” in its schools as of the start of the 2007 school year.
Active Governor Richard J. Codey said that the state school districts will be required to adopt a comprehensive statewide policy banning the sugary products. The policy, instituted through administrative law, will cover food items sold in vending machines, cafeteria, a la carte lines, snack bars, school stores, fundraisers and the reimbursable After School Snack Program.
“Schools are where children spend most of their time,” Codey said in a statement. “Instead of encouraging bad eating habits and bad health with the easy accessibility of candy and soda, schools must be a place where we teach good nutrition and lay the foundation for good eating habits.”
By Sept. 1, 2006, school districts will have to adopt a school nutrition policy and by Sept. 1, 2007, the policies will have to match the Model School Nutrition Policy as written in the amended Nutrition Rule.
Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus said at a media event that the guidelines are the most comprehensive school nutrition policy in the nation.
Under the policy soda, items listing sugar as the first ingredient and candy as well as other items deemed of minimal nutritional value may not be sold or given our free as a promotion. Schools will also be required to reduce purchases of products containing trans fats. All snack and beverage items will be required to contain no more than eight grams of fat per serving, and no more than two grams of saturated fat per serving.
The state is also taking a stiff approach to “supersizing,” requiring that all beverages not exceed 12 ounces (except water or milk, which can’t exceed eight ounces).
Each school’s curriculum must also include nutrition education.
New Jersey is among at least 23 other states that have introduced similar legislation to regulate the sale of soda and “junk food” in schools, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Last month, Connecticut moved a step closer to banning the sale of “junk food” in all of its public schools. 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 is in the hands of Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who has expressed reservations about the measure and planned to read it closely. A decision is expected shortly.
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