Schools will ban the sale of candies and high-calorie drinks

Schools will ban the sale of candies and high-calorie drinks (Alberta Times) The Ministry of Agriculture proposed for the first time on the 1st broad new standards to make snacks sold in schools healthier, almost banning students...

Schools will ban the sale of candies and high-calorie drinks (Alberta Times) The Agriculture Department proposed broad new standards for the first time on the 1st to make snacks sold in schools healthier, banning almost all candies, high-calorie drinks and fried foods in schools to combat childhood obesity. According to the regulations proposed by the Department of Agriculture, the Skittles sugar and Sprite soda currently filled in school vending machines will be replaced by water, low-calorie drinks, diet soda and baked potato chips; the greasy Mozzarella cheese bars and corn chips currently sold in the a la carte section of the school cafeteria will have to be replaced by healthier pizza, fruit cups and yogurt. The rules were established under the Child Nutrition Act passed by Congress in 2010. Current standards set the nutritional content of federally subsidized school breakfasts and lunches, but most school cafeterias sell other foods as part of a la carte portions. The USDA's new rules include limits on fat, calories, sugar and sodium for all food sold in schools. The USDA stipulates that most snacks sold in schools must contain less than 200 calories. Elementary and middle schools can only sell water, low-calorie milk, or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. High schools can sell some sports drinks, but they can only contain 60 or 75 calories in a 12-ounce container. The standards apply to vending machines, lunch a la carte portions, and other foods typically sold in schools. They do not apply to food at in-school fundraisers or bake sales, although states can set their own nutritional standards for food at those events. The USDA's standards also do not apply to snack stand food at school after-school sports games or theater performances, food brought from home to classroom celebrations, and food brought from home to school for students to eat themselves. Schools, food businesses, interest groups and critics have 60 days to comment and make suggestions for changes to the new regulations, which could be implemented as early as the 2014 school year after the Ministry of Agriculture finalizes them. According to a poll by the public interest organization Science Center, parents want changes to school cafeterias "so parents don't have to worry about their children using their lunch money to buy candy and high-calorie drinks instead of buying healthy school lunches."