Appendix 7: Summary of Literature of Nutrition Policy and/or Program Impacts
This appendix summarizes literature that evaluates impacts from implementing competitive food nutrition policies or programs. Each research article was scored according to the guidelines in Appendix 2. Briefly, a score of “1” is considered weak, “2” is considered fair, and “3” or higher is considered strong. The results of the literature are provided here based on how they affect a specific outcome such that:
(+) indicates general positive impact on an outcome
(-) indicates general negative impact on an outcome
(0) indicates no impact
(+/0 or -/0) indicates inconsistent findings
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Jessica Donze Black speaks with Online Athens about the USDA's decision to set nutrition standards on school snack foods and beverages.
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While it might take time before we can evaluate the impact of the new standards, which won’t take effect until September 2014, we can look at what we already know to assess them in comparison to the current status quo. The first hint of the new regulation’s potential comes from the Pew Charitable Trusts Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, showing that children and teens gained less weight over three years if they lived in a state with strong policies on school snacks than if they lived in a state without such standards.
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The Pew Charitable Trusts applauds Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) for her efforts to strengthen food safety protections under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, and provide grant funding to help school cafeterias across the nation upgrade their equipment to serve healthy, appealing meals to millions of school children. Funding for both programs was included in a larger bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
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Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods project, discusses the USDA's decision to finalize interim rules for snack foods and beverages sold in schools.
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The Obama administration on Thursday released long-awaited nutrition standards for foods that schoolchildren can buy outside the cafeteria, changes that are intended to combat climbing childhood obesity rates.
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