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''New regulations promote healthier snack foods in schools''
Jessica Donze Black speaks with Online Athens about the USDA's decision to set nutrition standards on school snack foods and beverages.
More infoKids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project Commends USDA for Proposing Snack Standards for Schools
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“We applaud USDA for taking this important step to ensure that all foods and beverages sold in schools, including snacks, meet minimal nutrition standards. This is the kind of positive change we need to help reduce obesity rates among children and teens, which are now more than triple what they were four decades ago.
“Millions of students currently have widespread access to snacks and beverages that are high in sugar, fat and salt. When fully implemented, the standards USDA has proposed today will help provide kids with healthier snack foods and beverages in a la carte lines, vending machines and school stores.
“With many students consuming up to half of their daily calories at school, these guidelines could make a real difference in the health of our nation’s kids. Now it’s up to us—parents, teachers, pediatricians and everyone who cares about children’s health—to tell USDA that we support efforts to provide students with healthy snacks and drinks. That requires a strong final rule.”
BACKGROUND: USDA has opened a 60-day comment period during which nutrition experts, school leaders, parents and other members of the general public are invited to review the proposed nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages and submit comments. This proposed rule complements USDA’s standards for school meals, which took effect this school year. Comments may be provided online at www.regulations.gov.
What are healthy snacks? | What is the cost to schools? | Do Americans want healthy snacks in schools? | How does my state rank? |
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Infographic: | Report: | Press Release: | Report: |
- Date added:
- Feb 1, 2013
- Project:
- Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project
- Topic:
- School Food
- Related Expert:
- Jessica Donze Black
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Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, speaks to the Washington Post about the USDA's decision to finalize interim rules for snack foods and beverages sold in schools.
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