Junk food ban in schools gets OK

Posted Tuesday 10-10-2006 at Pantagraph.com

Junk food ban in schools gets OK

Tuesday, October 10, 2006 5:39 PM CDT

By Matt Adrian
matt.adrian@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- New rules banning junk food sales in Illinois schools won approval Tuesday, but some lawmakers claim the measure was fast-tracked for political purposes.

A bipartisan legislative committee gave the nod to the Illinois State Board of Education to implement rules restricting the sale of junk food during school hours at elementary and middle schools. However, candy bars and soda can still be sold on school grounds after class ends for the day.

Education officials applauded the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules decision making the argument that children’s diets can affect their classroom performance.

“We are pleased to see the new junk food rules moving forward, because we know that a healthy diet contributes to the learning readiness and well being of the children of Illinois,” said state board chairman Jesse Ruiz in a prepared statement.

It is still unclear when the regulations will take effect.

State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, a JCAR member, questions why the state would move forward with new regulations when the School Wellness Policy Task Force, a panel of education and health experts, is expected to be making recommendations in January 2007.

“There is no reason this could not wait until next year,” he said. “It was done for purely, political reasons by this administration.”

Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be facing off against State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, and Green Party candidate Rich Whitney in the Nov. 7 election.

Burzynski, who voted against the new rules, was also concerned that school districts may have to pay out money to kill contracts with vending machine operators.

Under the new rules, schools can apply for waivers because of outstanding vending contracts but there is no guarantee an exemption will be given.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, argued the rules took power away from local schools board, principals and superintendents.

“They don’t need the big, state government telling them what they can put in their vending machines,” he said. “There are much more important matters that state government should be dealing with in regards to education.”

The rules also define what food can be served on school grounds. For instance, no food item with 35 percent of its calories coming from fat can be served. This prohibition also extends to food which gets more than 10 percent of its calories from saturated fat.

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