Confronted with the ever-widening array of snack and beverage items -- and absent any single set of federal nutrition standards for beverages and snacks sold in schools -- states are electing to define their own standards.

Why are there so few available federal guidelines?  So little consensus?  Nutrition authorities have for years seen food companies and industries exert political influence to block guidelines that direct consumers to “eat less” of their particular food, fearing a negative impact on sales volume.

Nonetheless, increasingly alarming health trends (obesity and its attendant host of chronic, often fatal disease) are gradually leading to the inevitable advice to “eat less” of just about everything but fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean meats and water.

A good example of the ongoing debate and turmoil is the Food Guide Pyramid, which was a source of controversy for a decade, mainly because of its hierachical presentation of food groups (its message being that those near the top of the pyramid are to be consumed more sparingly).

And the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid is currently undergoing scrutiny and refinement, mainly because it fails to distinguish complex carbohydrates (filling, nourishing, whole grain) from simple carbohydrates (refined flour, sweets, starches).

It also fails to distinguish good fats (heart-healthy Omega 3s, for example), from bad fats (saturated, artery-clogging). The new Pyramid is expected to be unveiled in 2005.

Most policies are aimed at ridding schools of junk food and drinks -- acknowledging that growing bodies cannot make empty calories an everyday proposition. And schools that make junk an everyday option send exactly the wrong message.

There’s a place for empty calorie “treats” in every diet. It’s the everyday habit of it that must be restrained.

For drinks and snacks sold at schools outside the USDA’s meal programs, here is an overview of current school standards ...

FMNV (Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value)

The standard in about 10 states (including Texas) ban these, due to their low nutrient content, often called “the junkiest of the junk.” (See below.)

USDA Regulations - The standard for about 30 states.

“New Standards” - Adopted by about 10 states, some are a bit more stringent/specific than the USDA spells out.

FMNV (Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value) are the emptiest calories -- mainly sugary drinks and candy. FMNV falls short in many physicians’ and nutritionists’ eyes because it fails to restrict chocolate bars, high-fat chips, ice creams and other calorie-dense snacks because they offer some nutritional value, however limited.

FMNVs are defined as:

	Hard candies: Sour balls, lollipops, fruit balls, candy sticks, starlight mints, jaw breakers, sugar wafers, rock candy
	Jellies and gums: Like Gummy Bears, Hot Tamales, jelly beans, Skittles, Starbursts
	Marshmallow candies
	Fondant: Like candy corn and soft mints
	Licorice
	Cotton candy
	Candy-coated popcorn
	Chewing gum and breath mints
	Water ices: Like Popsicles, containing fruit or fruit juice
	Carbonated sodas: No 20-oz. carbonated drinks unless existing contracts between school districts and soft drink companies require big sodas in machines. New or renewed contracts must limit sale to 12-oz. containers.

“New Standards”

Adopted in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, Virginia, West Virginia.    

Any snacks sold outside the federal meal programs must:

	Have no more than 35% of calories from fat (excludes nuts and seeds)
	Have no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat
	Be no more than 35% sugar by weight (excludes fruits, vegetables)
	Only beverages allowed are milk, water or unsweetened juice (at least 50% juice)

No Empty Calories

This variation on FMNV is often cited as providing less than 5% of the daily allowance of eight nutrients per serving or 100 calories. The eight nutrients are iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, calcium and protein.

Additional restrictions/variations, by state:

Delaware: Limits fat per serving to eight grams. Portion sizes must conform to USDA guidelines (two-ounce cookies versus eight-ounce jumbo ones). Limits most beverages to 12 ounces.

Brandywine School District, DE: Sports drinks limited to 42 grams of sugar per 20 ounce container. All dairy is either low-fat or skim.

Maine: Limits fat per serving to eight grams.

Massachusetts: Requires offering fruits and non-fried vegetables at all school meals; entree and side dish serving sizes follow USDA guidelines.

West Virginia: Prohibits FMNV and foods/beverages with 40% or more sugar by weight and drinks with less than 20% real juice.

Removing unhealthy foods and beverages from vending machines, school cafeterias and school stores is where most schools begin. Nutrition advisory panels report “children adapt well to aggressive changes.” Lower-fat dessert recipes were well accepted by school kids. (Source: Journal of the American Diabetic Association, 1997)