California Outlaws School Junk Food

01/09/05 California's state Assembly has passed landmark legislation to oust junk food sales from public school campuses. By setting the most rigorous food standards in the nation, Senate Bill 12 (Martha Escutia, D-Montebello) effectively locks high-fat, high-sugar snacks out of all California public schools (K-12), a critical step to addressing the state's growing obesity crisis, according to advocates.

"As of today, California schools are no longer in competition with the local mini-mart," declared California Center for Public Health Advocacy Executive Director Dr. Harold Goldstein, a lead sponsor of the legislation. "Our legislators have taken a crucial step in protecting our children. If they continue their leadership by passing SB 965 to ban soda sales in high school later this week, California will have made the most impressive gains in school nutrition since school lunch was introduced after World War II." California banned the sale of sodas and other sweetened beverages in elementary and middle schools in 2003.

The need for this legislation was highlighted last week by a study showing California children overweight rates rising by more than 6 percent. The study by CCPHA found that 28.1 percent of children were overweight, with increases for every ethnicity, age and gender group studied.

While Sen. Escutia is jubilant over the passage of the junk food ban, she cautions that the battle is not yet over. "After five years of hard work to rid California schools of junk food, finally our children will be protected," Escutia said. "But only half the battle has been won. Now soda sales in high schools must be stopped. California public schools should no longer be in the business of pushing liquid candy."

Research shows that decreasing soda consumption is one of the most promising strategies for preventing obesity. Every additional daily serving of soda increases a child's risk for obesity by 60 percent.