School Nutrition Gets F's: Missouri and Kansas Earn Failing Grades on the National Foods Report Card.
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 06:00 CDT
By Paul Wenske, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Jun. 21--We flunked the junk food test.
Missouri and Kansas are among 23 states that earned failing grades on a national Foods Report Card issued Tuesday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
"Although some local school districts have school food policies that are far better than the state standards, far too many states allow way too much junk food in schools," CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan said in a news release.
The consumer group focused its attention on statewide school nutrition policies. Kentucky got the highest grade, an A-. In all, only 15 states did better than a C.
The nonprofit group has pushed nationally for higher school-nutrition standards and for limiting sugary snacks and beverages sold in vending machines. The study looked at grade levels and the hours and locations in which snacks are offered.
A bipartisan group in Congress, concerned about obesity among American children, wants to overhaul 30-year-old federal nutritional guidelines and ban fatty and sugary foods.
Missouri and Kansas are developing new guidelines for schools. They range from slight changes to outright bans on some fatty snacks and soda. But local school districts are only required to consider the guidelines in developing their own plans.
To access the full report card, go to www.cspinet.org.
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To reach Paul Wenske, call (816) 234-4454 or send e-mail to pwenske@kcstar.com.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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Source: The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri)
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