Out of Balance: A Look at Snack Foods in Secondary Schools across the States

1. Nationally, the availability of snack foods in secondary schools varies tremendously from state to state. For example, only 4 percent of the schools in Connecticut sell non-chocolate candy, while 66 percent of the schools in Louisiana do so. In Idaho, 46 percent of secondary schools sell chocolate candy, but only 2 percent of schools in West Virginia do so. Variation also exists regarding the availability of fruits and vegetables(see Appendices 2 and 3). And, while less-healthy beverages such as soda and fruit drinks are available in fewer than half of schools in most states, the variation among states is still quite large—only 3 percent of the schools in West Virginia sell them, while more than half do so in Utah. This variation is likely the result of a disparate patchwork of policies at the state and local levels. While the majority of states have a policy in place that addresses snack foods in schools, the quality of these policies varies. Additionally, fewer than 5 percent of school districts have food and beverage policies that meet or exceed the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

2. Under this patchwork of policies, the majority of our nation’s children live in states where less healthy
snack food choices are readily available. In nearly three-quarters of the states, a substantial percentage of schoolsv sell low-nutrient, high-calorie snacks such as chocolate, other candy, or full-fat salty chips. Indeed, only two states (West Virginia and Rhode Island) have limited availability of chocolate candy, other candy, full-fat salty snacks, and baked goods in snack food venues; fewer than 10 percent of their schools sell these items.

3. Overall, the availability of healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables is limited (see Figures 2 and 3). The vast majority of secondary schools in 49 states do not sell fruits and vegetables in snack food venues. Among states and the District of Columbia, the median percentage of schools that sell fruit in school stores, snack bars, or vending machines is 28 percent. In 34 states and the District of Columbia, fewer than one-third of secondary schools sell fruits as an option in school stores, snack bars, or vending machines. In addition, the median percentage of schools selling vegetables in snack food venues is 19 percent. In 46 states and the District of Columbia, fewer than one-third of secondary schools sell vegetables in snack venues.

4. When states don’t differentiate between more- and less-healthy snacks, the overall snack food environment suffers. When schools group all snack foods together without distinguishing between healthy and less-healthy items, efforts to make nutritional modifications can have contradictory results. In other words, reducing all snack foods limits the availability of both healthy (fruits and vegetables) and less-healthy (candy and soda) snacks. Indeed, nine states, including the District of Columbia, rank in the bottom half of those selling both healthy and less-healthy snack foods. Conversely, 11 states have a high availability of both types of snacks.

 5. While many secondary schools reduced the availability of less-healthy snack foods between 2002 and 2008,17 progress has since stalled. For example, from 2002 to 2008, Oklahoma made significant progress in reducing the number of schools selling chocolate candy—down from 81 percent to 46 percent. However, there was only a two percentage point reduction from 2008 to 2010. Furthermore, between 2008 and 2010, four states (Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, and Pennsylvania) showed a more than five percentage point increase in the number of schools selling chocolate candy, other candy, or salty snacks (see Appendices 4, 5, and 6). Only five states expanded the availability of fruits by at least five percentage points (Idaho, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, and Washington) and just three did so for vegetables (Nevada, North Dakota, and Washington) (see Appendices 7 and 8).

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