DeLauro: Proposed School Food Standard “Critical Step Forward”

Will Ensure More Nutritious Foods for Kids, Help FightObesity

NEW HAVEN, CT--Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) issued thefollowing statement today on a proposed rule outlining nutrition standards forall foods sold in schools that participate in the school meals program. Commonly known as the ‘competitive foods' rule, this proposal setsminimum, science based nutrition standards for all foods sold during the schoolday. This includes foods sold outside of the school meals program,including a la carte lines and vending machines.

"These proposed standards are a critical step forward inimproving the nutritional quality of foods sold to our children inschools. For the first time, food sold outside of the school mealprograms must meet minimum nutritional guidelines," said DeLauro. "I amespecially encouraged by the landmark steps forward on sugar and sodium. This proposal must not be weakened and should be implemented in a timelymanner."

This proposed rule was required by the Healthy, HungerFree Kids Act, which was signed into law on December 13, 2010.

These science based nutrition standards are critical, asresearch indicates children's diets do not meet dietary recommendations fornutrition and good health. At the same time, data from the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention has found that more than one-third of Americanchildren were overweight or obese in 2010. In the past 30 years,childhood obesity has more than doubled among kids in the U.S.

Additional information on competitive foods may be found atthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here. The proposed rule may be found at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website here.