Most schools offer junk food: report

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nine out of 10 U.S schools offer
snack food or soda to students in direct competition with
school lunches, the U.S. General Accountability Office reported
on Wednesday.

Some, but not all, of the snacks are “junk” food. Consumer
groups and some politicians have called for immediate
legislation to regulate the nutritional content of what foods
schools can offer — even those in vending machines.

The GAO report found that 83 percent of elementary schools,
97 percent of middle schools, and 99 percent of high schools
offered “competitive” foods for sale — meaning food outside
the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs.

The report, based on two nationally representative surveys,
found that even though several states had enacted policies on
offering junk food, it was still widely available.

“Nearly 9 out of 10 schools sold competitive foods to
students in school year 2003-2004, and the availability of
competitive foods sold in middle schools and through a la carte
lines has increased over the last five years,” the GAO report
reads.

“Schools often sold these foods in or near the cafeteria
and during lunch, and the competitive foods available ranged
from nutritious items such as fruit and milk to less nutritious
items such as soda and candy,” it added.

The reason the competitive foods are offered is usually
money, the GAO said.

“Many schools, particularly high schools and middle
schools, generated substantial revenues through competitive
food sales in 2003-2004,” the report reads.

“Specifically, the nearly 30 percent of high schools
generating the most revenue from these sales raised more than
$125,000 per school.”

The GAO noted that the nutritional value of such foods is
“largely unregulated.” Many are sugary or fatty snacks that
contribute to obesity.

“This study should be a wake up call to all Americans, and
specifically to those of us in Congress who have stood idly by
as more and more junk food inundates our schools,” said Iowa
Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, who requested the report.

“If we are serious about combating the childhood obesity
epidemic and improving child nutrition, then everyone must chip
in — parents, schools, and yes even Congress.”

The American Beverage Association issued a statement saying
it had new guidelines that would stop the sale of soft drinks
in elementary schools and restrict sales in middle schools to
“nutritious” or lower-calorie beverages such as sports drinks,
no-calorie soft drinks, and low-calorie juice drinks during the
school day.