San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Sunday, February 11, 2001 1:57 AM MST

STUDENTS at Mountain View High School in El Monte load up on junk food and soda at the school's snack shop. (Staff Photo by MIKE MULLEN)

The lure of snacks Poor food choices jeopardizing students' health, report finds

By Karen Rubin

Staff Writer

Candy bars tucked into backpacks. A school club selling chips and Pepsi. A snack bar offering Twinkies, Coke and a sandwich.

Junk food sold on school campuses is contributing to diabetes and other health problems, says a report by the Department of Agriculture.

"When children are taught in the classroom about good nutrition and the value of healthy food choices but are surrounded by vending machines, snack bars, school stores and a-la-carte sales offering low nutrient density options, they receive the message that good nutrition is merely an academic exercise," the report says.

Due to the report, Congress is considering regulating food sales on school campuses. In addition, control of the sales of junk food would be put into the hands of school food directors.

In Sacramento this week, dozens of the state's school food services directors met with legislators to discuss nutrition, and the health erosion seen in students who ignore a healthy meal to buy high- calorie, high-fat, high-salt foods sold on campus.

The problem has raised such public concern that state Sen. Martha Escutia,

D-Whittier, is drafting legislation to restrict the sales of such foods on school campuses.

According to national health data, 27 percent of the teen-age population is obese, said Matt Sharp of the California Food Policy Advocates, a nonprofit organization which lobbies for the health of low-income residents.

"There is a wide-spread prevalence of unhealthy foods available on school campuses competing with the school meals," Sharp said.

"The school districts allow it to happen," said Geri Dee, a registered dietitian and school food service director with Hacienda La Puente School District. "There are tons of candy machines, ASB is selling Milky Ways and

Snicker bars. I can talk until I am blue in the face and they just ignore me."

But school-served breakfasts and lunches are healthier, according to a USDA report. These meals -- which must meet federal guidelines -- are lower in total fat and saturated fat and offer more fruits, vegetables and grain-based selections.

In school cafeterias, lunches and breakfasts must meet federal dietary guidelines that include portions of fruits and vegetables and limits on overall fat content.

Sales of soda and candy are prohibited where school meals are served. But state recommendations regarding the sale of sodas and junk foods are virtually ignored.

At El Monte City School District, where workers prepare 4,000 breakfasts and

9,600 lunches to students, Food Service Director Wanda Grant says the sales of junk food is an issue that impacts the financial integrity of the district and the health of the students.

At El Monte City School District, which has more than 11,500 students, health workers are seeing a higher incidence of obesity in fifth-, sixth-and seventh-graders at the schools.

"By the time the children are getting to us, it's become an epidemic," Grant said.

Part of the problem is candy and sodas are comfort foods and it is a sign of economic security that students can afford them.

"It used to be a chicken in every pot and now it is a six pack of soda in every refrigerator," Grant said.

Proceeds from the junk food kids buy at school pays for programs. In some cases it helps pay teacher salaries and buys textbooks.

Candy, sodas and potato chips provide a revenue stream that helps fund food service departments around the state.

Federal and state funding for the National School Lunch program has not increased enough to support the food service department, which is expected to run at a profit so it does not dig into the district's coffers, Grant said.

"The food service program is a cash cow of the district," Sharp said. "The districts are dependent on a significant amount of the money from a la carte sales. But the cost to taxpayers from the problems from obesity are far greater."

To buy fresh apples and pears costs almost three times what the canned variety does, so the sale of soft drinks, salted snack foods and packaged cake items on campuses greatly supplements the cafeteria revenue.

The money is used to buy food service equipment - which can run into the thousands of dollars - and to pay for salaries and nutrition education programs.

The reliance on the revenue from junk-food sales in high-income school districts is greater because fewer students participate in the National School Lunch Program, Grant said. Less participation means less money to the cafeteria fund and less money to the district.

"If state legislators are worried about the health of kids, they are going to have to come up with adequate funding," Grant said. "If we don't serve it there are soda machines outside and vending machines in the in the locker room. The kids will walk across the street to buy a Coke."

Food policy advocates are looking to help reduce the problem with a carrot and stick approach.

The sales of junk food needs to be placed under the control of the food service program, Sharp said. In addition, the state needs to increase its funding to food programs and provide financial awards to those who make an effort to reduce the amount of junk food sold on campus, he said.

Still, many school food service directors acknowledge middle-school and

high-school students like making choices and that is a part of growing up.

"There's nothing to prevent the student from spending their money on pop and candy instead of going in and getting a sandwich, milk and a piece of fruit," Dee said.

If state legislation is down the pike, California campuses could be hit even harder with strict regulations.

"We want healthy foods in our schools," Dee said. "If legislators want to regulate what we sell, financially support the school lunch and provide a level playing field so that everyone plays by the same rules."

-- Karen Rubin can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2109, or by e-mail at

karen.rubin@sgvn.com

http://www.sgvtribune.com/default.asp?puid=1498&spuid=1498&indx=668405&artic

le=on

Take a look at this piece in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune from Sunday,

February 11 on school food and the recent USDA report on vending machines.