This past summer new nutritional standards placed on all California school districts went into affect. Schools including El Camino are expected to adapt to the new law through the sale of healthier foods. California’s School Food Nutrition Standards Bill, formerly Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), was passed in 2005 to strengthen the food standards stated in Senate Bill 19 (SB 19), both carried by former Senator Martha Escutia. SB 12 intended to address childhood obesity and diseases associated with poor nutrition by eliminating schools of high-caloric snacks and fattening entrees. Officials hoped that by reducing the amount of junk food sold in schools, students would turn to the cafeteria for a nutritious meal.

The nutritional standards that are included in the law are as follows: Individually sold snacks must have a certain amount of calories from fat and saturated fat (excluding some items, see sidebar for more detail). Snacks must also be 250 calories maximum for high schools. Individually sold entrees cannot be more than 400 calories and must qualify under the federal meal program. (See sidebar for more detail).

Alongside with the School Food Nutrition Standards Bill, California’s school districts are to also follow the Senate Bill 965, which limits the sale of certain drinks during school hours. This bill also began this past July. Fifty percent of beverages sold to students from one half hour before the start of school until one half hour after school must be comply with the following rules: Fruit or vegetable drinks must be at least fifty percent fruit juice and all drinking water may have no added sweeteners and any electrolyte replacement beverage cannot contain more than 42 grams of added sweeteners. (See sidebar for more detail).

These standards apply to all groups, organizations and clubs selling food on campus to other students. Foods that do not meet the standards may be sold at least one-half hour after school or off campus. Many of the organizations and clubs on campus are taking this aspect of the law into definite consideration when thinking of fundraising.

Along with the numerous clubs at El Camino, others are also finding it difficult to comply with this new law. Machines were filled with Crunch chocolate bars and Famous Amous cookies, both of which do not follow the new nutritional standards. Just by looking at the snacks that are being filled in the vending machines, one can see that even the vendors are finding it hard to comply with the new strict requirements

Summary of bills can be found on:

http://publichealthadvocacy.org/PDFs/SB12Summary.pdf

http://www.publichealthadvocacy.org/PDFs/SB965Summary.pdf