Legislature seeks to help students be healthier: Bills would give boot to junk-food peddlers in the schools
By Ben Raymond Lode
The Springfield News

It's a familiar story and one that's often cited as a "win-win situation": A high school needs funds to save a program, and gets them by signing an exclusive deal with Coca-Cola or Pepsi to supply soda to the students.

Not everyone agrees, though, that deals like that are beneficial -- especially with all the attention that's been paid to childhood obesity of late.

And those misgivings have led to two Oregon State Senate bills -- 560 and 860 -- that would change the way the business of feeding Oregon's students is done.

Senate Bill 560 is supported by Sen. Bill Morrisette, D-Springfield, a former teacher who has focused on childhood obesity since taking office at the state capitol.

The two bills, which are only a few of several targeting childhood obesity this legislative session, were introduced in the Legislature on Monday.

Should they be passed into law, the bills would do two things.

They would ban the sale of foods that don't meet federal nutritional standards, as well as banning the sale of foods and beverages deemed of "minimal nutritional" value, during school hours.

"It's a nibble at the apple of trying to solve the overall problem (of childhood obesity)," said Don Bishoff, Morisette's legislative assistant, speaking on behalf of the senator.

But for schools who depend on revenues from food and beverage sales, it's a sticky situation.

Should they support legislation aimed at helping students eat healthier? Or are the programs they offer with the support of revenue from junk food and sugary candy and beverages more important?

According to Bishoff, the answer is clear.

"If they are peddling nothing but junk food, maybe they ought to shut it down," said Bishoff, referring specifically to a recently published article in the Eugene Register-Guard indicating some of Springfield High School's programs would take a financial hit should the Miller Mart be prevented from selling certain sought-after items.

"It's sort of silly if the schools are having health classes ... and then turning around selling them (the students) stuff they shouldn't eat," Bishoff said.

While many organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association, support the new bills, some educators question the effect the bills would have on students.

"If the Legislature begins to want to mandate lifestyles with quick-fix solutions ... I'm not sure if that's going to make a difference," said Bruce Smolnisky, director of education at Springfield School District.

Smolnisky, however, agrees that healthy kids are typically better learners who are more successful in school.

While many students would most likely circumvent the proposed legislation by bringing "illegal" foods and beverages, or leaving campus during lunch to get their nutrition of choice, others won't be able to find their way around the ban.

Businesses supplying schools with food and beverages that don't meet requirements, for example, would be shut off from doing business in an environment full of young students who may be easily impressed by flash advertising and catchy phrase words.

According to the Grocery Manufacturers of America, the world's largest association of food, beverage and consumer product companies, solving the obesity problem isn't likely to happen through legislation alone.

Kristin Power, Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc. state affairs director, testified on behalf of business in Salem on Monday.

"Restrictions ... will do nothing to motivate students, parents or communities to take the steps necessary to improve their overall health. Restriction do not educate," she said.

While businesses and those who support the bills are likely to clash again, a United States Department of Agriculture study shows that schools in other states, such as California and Washington, have already passed junk food laws.

Making it Happen!, a joint project of USDA's Team Nutrition and the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was undertaken as part of the HealthierUS initiative and supported by the U.S. Department of Education.

It shares stories from 32 schools and school districts that have made changes to improve the nutritional quality of all foods and beverages offered and sold on school campuses.

The most consistent theme emerging from these case studies is that students will buy and eat healthy foods and beverages, and schools can make money from healthful options.

According to SB 560, Healthy Foods for Oregon Schools Act, obesity is expensive for the state of Oregon. The bill notes that obesity-related chronic diseases cost the state more than $781 million in 2003, and nearly 10 percent of Oregon Health Plan costs are related to obesity.

The bills would not make it illegal for schools to have vending machines, but the vending machines would have to be filled with products that would meet the new standards.

The bills also would not make districts have to cancel their contracts with food and beverage suppliers.

According to Bishoff, the new legislation would likely be phased in over a period of time, giving school districts a chance to make necessary changes.

You can reach reporter Ben Raymond Lode at 746-1671 Ext. 316 or by e-mail at ben.lode@lee.net.