Snacks Attacked

Healthier foods headed for schools

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Former President Bill Clinton with kids from a New York City high school after a news conference on October 6, 2006. (Photo: Frank Franklin II/AP Images)

October 11, 2006

First it was sodas, now it’s the snacks.

Thanks to a new nutrition deal struck by former President Bill Clinton, school vending machines are likely to have a lot more healthy options. Five major snack food producers have agreed to sell and promote snacks to schoolchildren that meet new nutrition guidelines supported by the American Heart Association.

"This is voluntary; they don't have to do it," Clinton said of the schools and companies involved. "But they recognize the challenge we face and they are helping us take the first step."

President Clinton stated that factors like childhood obesity rates and the rising cost of health care make kids’ health an issue that demands action. He stressed the importance of schools’ supporting the initiative.

The deal was the result of an agreement between snack food companies and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint project between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. The companies are many of the largest in the snack-food industry—Kraft Foods Inc., Mars Inc., Campbell Soup Co., Dannon and PepsiCo Inc.

Under the new guidelines, schools would say goodbye to snacks with more than 35 percent sugar (by weight) or more than 35 percent of calories from fat.

This is not the first time President Clinton has been involved with the health of kids. This new deal comes less than a year after a landmark agreement between the alliance and several major soft drink companies. As a result of that deal, companies agreed to replace sugary drinks with healthier options.

The Next Step

The new deal means it’s time for some snack companies to go back to the drawing board.

There are a couple of ways that companies might meet the new voluntary nutrition guidelines—such as redeveloping existing products and introducing new lines of healthy snack products.

What about the companies and vendors not included in the initiative? President Clinton believes that the impact of this deal will have a positive effect on the rest of the snack-food industry.

“The companies are going to work to convince distributors and even their competitors to follow suit,” said President Clinton. “I think after today, their competitors are going to have a very difficult time explaining why they won’t.”

Critical Thinking Question

Read today's news story, and then answer the following question.

A New Deal Do you think unhealthy snacks should be banned from schools? Why or why not?

Join a discussion of this question on our bulletin board.

 

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