Canadian Beverage Industry Evolves Guidelines to Support Healthy Schools

The new guidelines reduce the number of calories and increase the nutritious beverage choices available to students during the school day.

15/05/06 TORONTO - Refreshments Canada announced today that it is evolving its school guidelines to ensure that Canadian students have greater access to lower-calorie and nutritious beverage choices.

The new guidelines reduce the number of calories and increase the nutritious beverage choices available to students during the school day. Under the new guidelines, only 100% juices, bottled water and no-fat and low-fat regular and flavoured milk will be sold in elementary and middle schools. High schools will also sell calorie-free and low-calorie beverages as well as juice drinks and sports drinks with no more than 100 calories per container.

The purpose of the new guidelines is to accelerate the shift to lower calorie and nutritious beverages for children during the school and extended school day. The Canadian beverage industry wants to be a part of the solution and contribute to the effort.

Anthony van Heyningen, Executive Director of Refreshments Canada, said that capping the number of calories available in beverages in schools at 100 calories per container, except for certain milks and juices whose nutritional value warrants the higher number of calories - is a logical, and proactive step toward helping our kids live healthier lives.

"Our industry continues to take a leadership role in matters concerning the health of Canadian children and youth," said Anthony van Heyningen, Executive Director of Refreshments Canada. "We recognize that schools are a unique environment and we are delighted to do our part to help them encourage students to lead healthy, active lives."

Van Heyningen noted that what children eat and drink is only one part of the health equation. Regular daily physical activity is also key to a healthy, balanced lifestyle, he said, and schools provide an opportunity to teach children the importance of both food/beverage choices and activity.

Refreshments Canada announced elementary school guidelines two years ago and expanded them to middle and high schools last year following consultations with parents and school administrators. The new guidelines build on that initiative.

"Member companies already support nutrition and physical education programs across the country," said van Heyningen. "It only makes sense to customize our product offerings as well to help schools in their efforts to create a healthier generation."

He added that adopting these new guidelines, and accelerating the shift to low-calorie and nutritious beverages for the school environment will also strengthen the industry's ability to counter the perception by our critics that some beverages don't fit into a balanced diet.

"It's a perception that is simply not true. Our broad range of beverages will continue to be a part of occasions where the need for hydration, refreshment, nutrition and celebration go hand-in-hand with physical activity, fun and enjoyment," he said.

The new guidelines were announced in concert with a similar announcement in the U.S. by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, - a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. van Heyningen applauded the U.S. move and said he hopes the announcement will lead to a call for action in Canada for others to join in developing real solutions to a complex problem. Refreshments Canada encourages others to be part of a broader initiative that could lead to a rational, logical and holistic national comprehensive approach to this issue, he said.