* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download PRINTER`S NO. 2207 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
Survey
Document related concepts
Transcript
PRINTER'S NO. 2207 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL No. 1724 Session of 2011 INTRODUCED BY GERBER, BRIGGS, McGEEHAN, BISHOP, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, DePASQUALE, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, MILNE, MIRABITO, MURT, PAYTON, SANTARSIERO, STABACK, STURLA, WAGNER AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 24, 2011 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 24, 2011 AN ACT Amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for school foods reform and imposing duties on schools relating to the sale of food and beverages and on the Department of Education and the Department of Health. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Title 24 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read: CHAPTER 3 SCHOOL FOODS REFORM § 301. Findings and declarations. The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: (1) Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in this Commonwealth and throughout the nation. Studies show approximately 16.5% of American children are obese, and the rates have doubled in children and tripled in teens over the past two decades. (2) Overweight and obese children are at a higher risk for long-term health problems, including: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (3) Heart disease. Stroke. Type 2 diabetes. Certain cancers. High blood pressure. Gallbladder disease. Childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of obesity in adulthood. In addition, the lives of overweight youth are also often affected by: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (4) Discrimination. Psychological stress. Poor body image. Low self-esteem. Two-thirds of deaths in this Commonwealth result from four chronic diseases: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (5) Heart disease. Cancer. Stroke. Diabetes. Health experts agree one of the most effective ways to prevent these four chronic diseases is to establish policies and programs to help children and adolescents develop healthy eating and physical activity habits they can maintain throughout their lives. (6) A child who is physically healthy is more likely to be academically motivated, alert and successful. Good nutrition plays an important role in learning and cognitive development. Inadequate diet and hunger have been found to adversely influence the ability to learn and to decrease motivation and attentiveness. (7) The school environment significantly influences the foods children eat nearly every day. While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the nutritional quality of meals sold under its reimbursable school lunch and breakfast programs, similar standards do not exist for foods and beverages sold individually outside the USDA meal programs. This includes foods sold through vending machines, a la carte lines, fundraisers and school stores. These foods are often high in added sugars, salt or saturated fats and trans fats. (8) Only 2% of children two to 19 years of age meet the five main recommendations for a healthy diet from the USDA. Soft drink consumption has doubled over the last 30 years. USDA surveys have found that children two to 18 years of age consumed an average of 118 more calories per day in 1996 than they did in 1978. According to the USDA, the increases are largely driven by increased intake of foods and beverages high in added sugars, especially sodas, fruit drinks, cookies and other sweet baked goods. Only one-third of children eat the recommended amount of fruit, and about three-quarters of school-age children consume too much saturated fat and sodium and not enough fiber. (9) Nutrition-poor foods in schools undermine parents' efforts to feed their children well. Parents entrust schools with the care of their children during the school day. Without their parents' knowledge, some children spend their lunch money on low-nutrition foods from vending machines and a la carte lines, rather than on balanced school meals. (10) Schools are switching to the sale of healthier foods without losing revenue. The USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied 17 schools and school districts reporting income data after improving the nutritional quality of school foods and beverages. After improving their school foods, 12 schools and school districts increased their revenue and four reported no change. § 302. Definitions. The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "A la carte line." The portion of the school selling individual items, as opposed to a complete meal. "A la carte entrée." A main dish sold outside of the reimbursable school meal program. A la carte entrées include, but are not limited to, items such as sandwiches, wraps, pizzas and salads. The term a la carte entrée shall not include side dishes, snacks or other individually sold items. "Individual item." Separately priced food or beverage sold or served outside of reimbursable school meal programs in schools. "Nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages." A liquid fortified with calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin B12, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium to ensure it has the same nutritional value as a cup of milk. "School day." The period of time between the arrival of the first student at the school building and the end of the last instructional period. The term shall not include periods of time before or after the school day which are commonly used for extracurricular activities such as clubs, yearbook, band, choir, student government, drama and sports. "Snack items." A food generally regarded as supplementing a meal, including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, yogurts, puddings, soups, cheeses, snack chips, pretzels, crackers, popcorn, nuts, seeds, french fries, onion rings, pastries, dried meat snacks, granola bars, energy bars, breakfast bars, cookies, brownies, snack cakes, candy, doughnuts, ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen fruit bars and other similar foods. "USDA." § 303. The United States Department of Agriculture. Nutritional standards for foods and beverages sold individually on school grounds during the school day. (a) Sales on school grounds.--The sale of foods on school grounds during the school day shall meet the standards in sections 304 (relating to beverages) and 305 (relating to foods). (b) Foods sold outside of reimbursable school meals.--Food or beverages served or sold through vending machines, cafeteria a la carte lines, fundraisers and school stores at elementary and secondary schools on campus throughout the school day shall meet the standards in subsections (c) and (d) and sections 304 and 305. (c) Elementary schools.--Food and beverages available to students in elementary schools shall meet the standards in sections 304 and 305. (d) Middle, junior high and high schools.--In middle, junior high and high schools, individual items sold outside the reimbursable school meal programs, including, but not limited to, items sold through a la carte lines, vending machines, student stores or fundraising activities, shall meet the nutrition and portion size standards set forth in sections 304 and 305. § 304. (a) Beverages. Elementary schools.--The following beverages shall be permitted for sale in elementary schools: (1) Bottled water or bottled seltzer water without added caloric sweeteners. (2) Fruit and vegetable juices and fruit-based drinks which are eight ounces or less, containing 100% fruit juice and no additional caloric sweeteners and up to 120 calories. (3) Unflavored or flavored lowfat or fat-free fluid milk and nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages, as defined by the USDA, which are eight ounces or less. (b) Middle schools.--The following beverages shall be permitted for sale in middle schools: (1) Bottled water or bottled seltzer water without added caloric sweeteners. (2) Fruit and vegetable juices and fruit-based drinks which are ten ounces or less, containing 100% fruit juice with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories. (3) Unflavored or flavored lowfat or fat-free fluid milk and nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages, as defined by the USDA, which are ten ounces or less. (c) High schools.--The following beverages shall be permitted for sale in high schools: (1) Bottled water or bottled seltzer water without added caloric sweeteners. (2) Fruit and vegetable juices and fruit-based drinks which are 12 ounces or less, containing 100% fruit juice with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories. (3) Unflavored or flavored lowfat or fat-free fluid milk and nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages, as defined by the USDA, which are 12 ounces or less. (4) Noncarbonated beverages with no more than 66 calories per eight ounces. (d) Beverages not allowed.--The following beverages shall not be for sale in schools: (1) Soft drinks containing caloric sweeteners. (2) Sports drinks that do not meet the guidelines established in this section. (3) Iced teas that do not meet the guidelines established in this section. (4) Fruit-based drinks that contain less than 100% fruit juice or that contain additional caloric sweeteners. (5) Beverages containing caffeine, excluding lowfat or fat-free chocolate milk. § 305. (a) Foods. Prohibitions.--With the exception of a la carte entrees, a food item sold individually during the school day shall meet the following standards: (1) Contain less than or equal to 150 calories. (2) Contain less than or equal to 30% of its calories from fat, excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter and other nut butters and 10% of its calories from saturated fats. (3) Contain less than or equal to 35% of its weight from added sugars. If a food manufacturer fails to provide the added sugar content of a food item, schools may use the percentage of weight from total sugars and exempt fruits, vegetables and dairy foods from this total sugar limit. (4) Contain less than or equal to 230 milligrams of sodium per serving for chips, cereals, crackers, french fries, baked goods and other snack items. (5) (b) Contain zero grams of trans fats as labeled. A la carte entrées.--Each a la carte entrée shall meet the following criteria: (1) Contain less than or equal to 450 calories. (2) Contain less than or equal to 35% of its calories from fat. (3) Contain less than or equal to 10% of its calories from saturated fat. (4) Contain less than or equal to 600 milligrams of sodium. (5) Contain less than or equal to 35% of its weight from added sugars. If a food manufacturer fails to provide the added sugar content of a food item, schools may use the percentage of weight from total sugars and exempt fruits, vegetables and dairy foods from this total sugar limit. (6) (c) Contain zero grams of trans fat as labeled. Requirements.--A choice of at least two fruits and nonfried vegetables shall be offered for sale where foods are sold at the school. The items may include, but not be limited to: (1) Fresh fruits and vegetables. (2) Fruit-based drinks that contain 100% fruit juice and that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners. (3) Cooked, dried or canned fruit products whether or not contained in fruit juice or light syrup that contain fewer than 150 calories per serving. (4) Cooked, dried or canned vegetables that contain fewer than 150 calories per serving and that meet the fat and sodium guidelines. Schools with vending machines are encouraged to include refrigerated snack vending machines which accommodate fruits, vegetables, yogurts and other perishable items. Section 2. This act shall take effect January 30, 2013.