Schools Challenged to Apply Nutrition Standards to Competitive Foods

Berry Friesen, Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center

Schools that want more state dollars to support their school lunch and breakfast programs must begin regulating the nutritional content of nearly all foods and beverages available on school campuses during the school day.

The General Assembly adopted this policy as it enacted House Bill 842 just before it adjourned for the summer. Governor Rendell signed the bill on July 20. The bill directs the PA Department of Education (PDE) to establish a School Nutrition Incentive Program that provides “a supplemental school lunch and breakfast reimbursement to any school that has adopted and implemented the nutrition guidelines for food and beverages available on each school campus.” The supplemental payment will be 1 cent per breakfast, and 1 to 3 cents per lunch depending on how effectively the school is reaching its students with the breakfast program.

Anticipating that many schools will accept the challenge, the General Assembly also appropriated an additional $6 million for school meal reimbursement payments.

Prior to passage of HB 842, schools were required to regulate only the content of meals provided under the National School Lunch or School Breakfast programs. No external guidelines regulated what schools served a la carte in the lunch room or in hallway vending machines. Schools may continue in that fashion. But if they want the extra few cents per meal in state reimbursements, they must begin applying the PA Department of Education’s guidelines to a la carte and vended items as well.

Most of the debate within the General Assembly focused on the content of PDE’s guidelines, originally issued in 2006. The PA School Business Officials (PASBO) and School Nutrition Association of PA (SNAPa) said the guidelines were too strict and would cause children to stop buying a la carte offerings. After intense negotiations involving the Governor’s Office and PDE, the guidelines were relaxed and PASBO and SNAPa supported the legislation.

Following is a partial summary of the changes in PDE’s guidelines.

  • Any item that is served as part of the National School Lunch Program, if served ala carte that same day, is exempt.
  • Rather than limit the amount of ala carte offerings, the revised guidelines limit the number of duplicates the student is allowed to purchase.
  • Restrictions on flavored water and water with artificial sweetener are relaxed.
  • 2 percent milk is included on the non-restricted beverage list.
  • Vending machines are permitted for students in grades K-5, although restrictions are placed on foods.
  • Food sold as fundraisers outside of the school day are excluded from the guidelines.
  • Fruits and vegetables will not be required sale items in school stores.
  • No fiber requirements will apply to a la carte items, vending machines, and school stores. However, at least 50% of grains offered must be whole grains.

The revised guidelines, while less rigorous than before, will nevertheless require significant changes in dietary practices in some schools. Here is a partial summary of key requirements that may impact school food service practices.

  • Schools are not permitted to use deep fat fryers on site.
  • Increased amounts (and perhaps varieties) of bread and other grains are required to meet the whole grain requirement.
  • Beverage restrictions limit both types and sizes of beverages sold, which may prove a particular challenge for schools attempting to stock vending machines with appropriately-sized drinks.
  • Fundraiser foods sold during the school day must meet nutrition guidelines. This guideline will impact the types of foods traditionally used as fundraisers.
  • Guidelines on foods available for classroom parties and/or holiday celebrations limit hi-sugar foods and require the addition of fresh fruits or vegetables and healthier drink options. Additionally, food service must provide a menu of approved food and drink options for classroom parties in year two.

To review the revised PDE guidelines, please visit www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp/view.asp?a=5&q=125996.

Reader comments about the guidelines are encouraged and should be sent to panen@pahunger.org.