Junk food in schools targeted

A State Board of Education committee wants more healthful snacks and less soda and junk food in vending machines and, in light of a recent state audit, to require districts to take competitive bids before signing with Coke or Pepsi, for example.

But its hands are pretty well tied.

The law won't let the board overstep legal bounds and manage public schools. So the board can set minimum standards and require districts to have policies on vending machines, including securing written contracts and accounting procedures, but can't go much further, said Jean Hill, attorney at the State Office of Education.

"You can certainly advise ... but given statutory constraints here, I don't think you can tell schools to have certain foods ... or what they're going to serve for lunch," Hill told the board's finance committee Friday.

Still, it could seek legislation to change that.

School vending machines are a hot topic.

A state audit in recent weeks found Utah schools earn up to $3.75 million from vending machine sales, often using profits for athletics and other programs.

But some say the money is tainted — made off junk food that contributes to rising childhood obesity and diabetes incident rates. Up to 80 percent of the fare sold in vending machines is unhealthful, state child nutrition analyst Elaine Jensen said.

Some Utah groups are taking action.

The State Board of Education in 2004 passed a resolution urging schools to examine whether their lunch times were too short, therefore encouraging kids to buy junk food out of vending machines instead of sitting down to eat.

The Utah PTA and American Academy of Pediatrics have OK'd resolutions and policy statements, respectively, decrying junk food in school vending machines and encouraging school leaders to consider changing vended fare. The American Beverage Association has recommended limiting soft drink availability in schools. The federal government is requiring schools to have policies to promote nutrition and wellness.

"We're not here to say the vending machines are bad and shouldn't be in schools. ... That revenue generator needs to stay in place," said Luann Elliott, state director of child nutrition programs. "The good news is ... children will make healthy choices if you give them healthy choices."

Bountiful Junior High can attest to that.

This year, it replaced unhealthful vending machines with those containing healthful food choices.