April 30, 2009 -- Today Senator Tom Harkin (D- Ia.) introduced the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act (S. 934.) The legislation, a companion bill to HR 1324 in the House of Representatives, would give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to regulate the sale of foods sold outside of the federal school nutrition programs. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
The current bill is very similar to bills introduced in the 109th and 110th Congresses. The legislation would update the definition of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value to correspond with current nutrition science. This bill would also expand the time and place rule, allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to have authority over competitive foods (foods and beverages sold on the school campus during the school day that compete with the nutritious meals available through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.) SNA has long advocated that all foods served and sold in school should be held to an appropriate and consistent nutrition standard. Failure to apply the same rules to all foods sold on campus throughout the school day erodes the efforts schools are making to ensure the nutritional quality and value of school meals offered inside the cafeteria.
The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 addresses nutrition standards for foods served outside (and therefore not part of) the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The NSLP and SBP nutrition standards and meal pattern requirements are updated by the US Department of Agriculture and are required by law to be consistent with the goals of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A panel convened by the Institute of Medicine is currently reviewing the NSLP nutrition standards and meal pattern requirements.
SNA supports the creation of a consistent, national nutrition standard for all foods served during the school day. A child’s nutrition needs are the same, whether they reside in Maine or Montana. Consistent standards are needed to promote wellness and send a clear message to students. SNA supports the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act as an important step in the right direction. Along with SNA, the following other groups support Senator Harkin’s bill: American Dental Association, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
S. 934