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Senate votes to limit sugar, fat in state school food

By Steve Lawrence, The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO -- Worrying about "an epidemic" of sedentary, obese and unhealthy students, the Senate voted Wednesday to limit the fat and sugar content in food served at California schools.

"The food we feed our children is killing them," said Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon, who argued that sugar-laden food has done more harm to students than tobacco.

But Sen. Ray Haynes, R-Temecula, said lawmakers should be more concerned about limiting students' access to condoms, abortions and pornography; and that restricting school menus would merely encourage students to eat off campus.

"I never thought we would be fast-food fascists," he said.

By a 22-15 vote, senators sent the Assembly a bill by Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Commerce, that would:

-- Ban, from a half hour before the start of school until a half hour after school, the serving of fruit drinks that include additional sweeteners, sports drinks containing more than 25 grams of sweeteners and carbonated beverages. Elementary schools could serve only water, milk and fruit juice.

-- Require that no more than 35 percent of the calories in school snacks, sweets and side dishes come from fat and that no more than 10 percent of calories in those foods come from saturated fat.

-- Allow sugar to make up no more than 35 percent of a snack, sweet or side dish by weight.

-- Limit drinks other than milk and water to 12 ounces, ban the serving of jumbo entrees and require school snack bars and stores to offer fruits and vegetables.

Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, said the bill was a response to "an epidemic of sedentary children" who are overweight and suffering from diabetes, heart disease and other health problems.

June 7, 2001

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001