April 7, 2006 -- Bills Would Tighten Ban on ‘Junk Food’ in Schools

Legislation introduced in both the House and Senate yesterday would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require a new definition of “foods of minimal nutritional value” and to ban the sale of such foods on entire school campuses and for the entire school day. Under the 1966 law, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to define by regulation what’s meant by “minimal nutritional value,” a term that currently includes primarily items such as certain candies. Under the proposed amendment, the Secretary in revising the definition would have to take into account “both the positive and negative contribution of nutrients, ingredients, and foods (including calories, portion size, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and added sugar) to the diets of children; and evidence concerning the relationship between consumption of certain nutrients, ingredients, and foods to both preventing and promoting the development of overweight, obesity, and other chronic illnesses.” Once a new definition is adopted, the “foods of minimal nutritional value” could not be sold on the school campus at any time during the school day. Introducing the Senate bill, S. 2592, chief sponsor Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) said “schools have been inundated with foods and drinks having little or no positive nutritional value.” He noted that “the heavy selling of candy, soft drinks, and other junk food in our schools undermines the authority of parents who want to help their children consume sound and balanced diets.” Harkin’s bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Nutrition. The companion House bill, H.R. 5167, and the Senate bill can be read in full and followed on website http://thomas.loc.gov.