USDA Banning Junk Food Sales in Public Schools
The USDA Smart Snacks in School regulations are set to take effect on July 1, 2014. The USDA is effectively banning the sale of all "junk foods" sold in vending machines, a la carte lunch, student stores, and fundraisers including bake sales, according to Fox News 59.
This is great news for the fresh produce industry. All fruits and vegetables will still be allowed. 100% fruit and vegetable juice will also still be permitted. According to the 54-page USDA guide to the new rules, any competitive food sold must be a fruit, vegetable, dairy product, protein-rich food, or combo food which contains at least 1/4 cup fruit and/or vegetable.
The new rules are a result of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which set a deadline for the USDA to revamp its school snack standards, which haven't been changed for 30 years. These rules will affect over 100,000 elementary, middle, and high schools which accept assistance from the National School Lunch Program.
"Many parents are working hard every day to make sure they provide healthy, balanced meals and snacks to their kids. Unfortunately, we don’t always have control over the snacks our kids have access to when they’re away from home. That’s why, as a mom myself, I am so excited that schools will now be offering healthier choices to students and reinforcing the work we do at home to help our kids stay healthy," First Lady Michelle Obama commented in a USDA release.
Schools that do not comply with the new rules will face penalties including large fines or loss of federal funding.
This appears to be the most significant change the USDA has made in an effort to fight childhood obesity. Back when I attended public high school in California, I recall being sold pepperoni pizzas, Taco Bell burritos, Mrs. Fields cookies, and high-calorie sodas. Left to make its own decisions, my school's administration appeared all too willing to make unhealthy options available to its students. Although healthy options were also available, they were never as popular as the junk.
This is a significant victory for the fresh produce industry. In addition to increasing sales volumes of fruits and vegetables at schools, we will hopefully also see an increase in fresh produce's popularity amongst young consumers outside of school.
USDA's Smart Snacks in School
