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Contact: Diane Pratt-Heavner
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School Nutrition Association Submits Comments on Proposed Competitive Food Regulations
2013-03-25
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (March 25, 2013) – School Nutrition Association (SNA), a national nonprofit representing 55,000 school foodservice professionals across the country, has submitted comments in response to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed regulations to establish nutrition standards for “competitive” foods and beverages. SNA’s comments are available by clicking here.
The proposed regulations govern items sold in school a la carte lines, vending machines and snack bars during the school day, excluding food brought from home, served in classroom parties, sold through occasional fundraisers, or at after school events.
To protect nutritional integrity and minimize unnecessary complexity, SNA’s recommended changes to the proposal are designed to bring the competitive food regulations in line with new nutrition standards for school meals.
“Under the new nutrition standards for school meals, schools have been switching to whole grains and leaner proteins and limiting unhealthy fat and calories,” said SNA President Sandra Ford, SNS. “Competitive foods sold in schools should meet the same healthy standards as school meals.”
SNA recommends that the new standards mirror the meal pattern standards so schools are not forced to evaluate food choices based on two different sets of complicated standards.
SNA’s comments were developed by a representative task force with extensive input from SNA members. The deadline for the public comment period is April 9, 2013.
About School Nutrition Association:
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about today’s school meals, visit www.TrayTalk.org.
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