Chairman Miller Applauds Recommendations for National Standards for Foods in Schools

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today applauded the recommendations made by the National Academy of Science Committee on Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools that propose national rules on the availability and marketing of food and snacks to children at schools.

The committee's members - drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine - asked that Congress issue national guidelines to promote healthy eating in schools.  The federal school nutrition law requires local school districts to develop local wellness policies addressing nutrition standards for foods made available to students throughout the school day and over 20 states have established policies for this purpose.  The suggestions include limiting the availability and marketing of foods high in fat, sugar, and calories to children before, during and after the school day through school vending machines and in the a la carte line in the lunch room.

"These are serious recommendations that deserve a close look by Congress," said Miller. "The experts in child nutrition and health are saying that now is the time for Congress to take action.  We must stop shortchanging our children's long-term health and wellbeing. Research already tells us that dietary patterns and life-long eating patterns are learned at a young age and schools are an appropriate environment for teaching and encouraging healthy behavior."

The report also recommended curbing the marketing of snacks to students.

"Kids are already exposed to enough marketing at every turn from businesses that do not have their best interests in mind," said Miller.  "The school house should be an advertising-free zone."

To read the committee's full report and recommendations, please click here.

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