Local legislators praise school nutrition bill
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The Massachusetts Legislature today passed legislation that would ban the sale of unhealthy foods and drinks in Massachusetts public schools.
The bill institutes nutritional guidelines, to be developed by the Department of Public Health, for foods and beverages sold to students outside of the federal meal program. The legislation establishes standards for products sold in vending machines, school stores, and cafeteria a la carte lines.
“I have been a supporter of this legislation for many years,” Senator Jehlen (D-Somerville) said. “By providing our children with more nutritious locally grown foods we will help them to be better students and to grow up much healthier.”
The bill dictates that all school districts create school wellness and advisory committees to develop a district-wide wellness policy. The legislation also requires nutrition and exercise as subjects for instruction in schools.
“This bill will empower both parents and educators to help our children lead healthier lifestyles,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “These new nutritional standards benefit our children, families, local farmers, as well as help control future disease and health care costs.”
The bill also includes a provision for preferential purchasing for products grown in Massachusetts and instructs the Department of Agriculture to collect data to facilitate the process of local farms and public schools doing business together.
“This legislation is well aligned with the goals and methods of our successful ‘Shape up Somerville’ program,” said State Representative Denise Provost (D-Somerville). “It also supports Massachusetts agriculture – an important sector of our state’s economy – while putting fresher, tastier food in school breakfasts and lunches.”
The American Heart Association has confirmed that childhood obesity is one of the most critical public health issues facing our nation today, threatening to reverse the last half century’s gains in reducing cardiovascular disease and related deaths.
Representative Tim Toomey (D-Somerville) said, “It’s about time we passed this bill. We owe it to future generations to put in place an educational framework to reinforce the development of healthy life-styles.”
One-third of children aged two to five years are either at risk for being overweight or are already overweight. In Massachusetts, 29 percent of middle school students are overweight or obese. Studies show that these children are more likely than their peers to be absent from school, experience low self-esteem and become obese adults.
Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Medford) said, “This legislation has great potential to both empower our school age children to make healthy choices and promote local agriculture. Improving school nutrition shows that the Commonwealth is serious about combating risk factors for unhealthy lifestyles and committed to taking a more thoughtful approach to food policy.”