The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, following up on its voluntary agreement with major beverage companies to limit high calorie drinks in schools, has reached a similar agreement on snack food distribution in schools with Dannon, Kraft Foods, Mars, PepsiCo and the Campbell Soup Company.
Marian Burros writes in the NYTimes:
French fries, ice cream, candy, cupcakes and potato chips from the machines, lunch lines, school stores and even school fund-raising events could disappear...
The voluntary nature of the agreement is questioned by some nutrition advocates. She also points out that while the beverage companies that signed on to an agreement controlled 90% of the market for soft drinks in schools, there are 70 or so companies that supply snack foods to schools.
And nutrition guidelines for all foods served in schools, especially 'competitive' or snack foods, are to be released by the Institute of Medicine later this year. This anticipates action in the Senate to mandate the USDA to set federal standards for snack foods in schools.
I remain intrigued that the education sector is not involved in these discussions, agreements or photo ops - after all, it is their sandbox. Maybe it's the money on the table?
Oh, and the agreement is just in time for the new industry push to introduce more new products into vending machines. Same trick as the beverage folks pulled.
Note to negotiators: It's all about maintaining distribution channels for, and student access to, snack food products - not what's IN them.
Update: CSPI notes the vending machine companies are missing in action as well as the schools.
Technorati Tags: Competitive Foods, Distribution, Marketing, Schools, Snack Foods
Not sure if you mentioned that back in August, but Latvia banned all
sodas especially Coke and Pepsi from schools, pushing milk and juices
instead:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Latvia-Bans-Unhealthy-Foods-Coca-Cola-and-Pepsi-in-Schools-33659.shtml
http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/16213/
Estonia did the same in September and Lithuania is banning Coca-Cola as
well at least in primary schools according to some code of conduct of
European Beverages Association.
Good luck in doing the same in US!
Brgds,
Jüri
Posted by: Craig | 08 October 2006 at 06:10 PM