Ask Congress to Improve School Foods

The current nutrition standards for foods sold out of vending machines, school stores, and a la carte lines are outdated and allow for the sale of many unhealthy foods in schools.

Your Senators and Representative in Congress need to hear directly from you that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's definition of junk food in schools is outdated and needs to be fixed.

Please take a minute to send a letter to your Senators and Representative. Ask them to cosponsor the bipartisan Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act. This bill would update school nutrition standards to bring them in line with current nutrition science, and to apply those standards throughout the campus and school day.

Click below to send a letter to Congress. Thank you in advance for your help!

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Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

Please cosponsor the bipartisan Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act (S. 771 and H.R.1363).

Introduced by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT), the bill would require the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring its nutrition standards for foods sold out of vending machines, a la carte in the cafeteria, and school stores in line with current nutrition science, and to apply those nutrition standards throughout the campus and school day.   As you know, good nutrition is critical to children's health, well being, and ability to learn.

USDA's nutrition standards for foods sold outside of meals are outdated.  Nutrition science has evolved since USDA implemented its nutrition standards in 1970s.  Over the past several decades, over-consumption of calories, saturated fat, trans fat, refined sugars, and sodium have increasingly become problems in children's diets.  Those constituents are not addressed by USDA's school nutrition standards yet contribute to obesity, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and tooth decay.

Under the existing standards, candy bars may be sold but jelly beans may not.  Doughnuts are allowed but seltzer is not.  The standards do not make sense and undermine parents' attempts to feed their children healthfully.

It is common sense that schools should offer children foods that provide proper nutrition to nourish their minds and bodies.  I look forward to hearing whether you will cosponsor the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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