School Vending Machines 'Out' with Health Advocates

Yahoo! News ^ | 7/13/2003 | Lauren Weber - Reuters

[yonif]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As popularity contests go, vending machines may no longer be part of the "in" crowd in American high schools. At least, that is the hope of some legislators and health advocates.

Last month, for example, the largest U.S. school district -- located in New York City -- decided to ban soft drinks, sweet snacks and candy from its vending machines. And more legislation, both state and local, is expected as legislators and educators battle a growing obesity epidemic.

"Over the last two years, we've noticed a vast increase in the number of bills introduced that would restrict or ban the sale of certain items in schools," said Tom McMahon, chief counsel for the National Automatic Merchandising Association, which represents companies that supply vending machines.

"At least 30 states have considered legislation," McMahon said. He says nutrition education, not bans, should be used to teach children about healthy eating habits.

But health advocates say education is not enough; schools should encourage good eating habits by offering healthy items like milk and unsalted pretzels while cutting access to junk foods.

"Vending sends the wrong message to children," said Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "Schools should practice what they teach. They should teach nutrition in the classroom and they should model it in the hallways."

REVENUE SOURCE

Banning sweets and other snacks means weaning schools off a revenue source at a time when schools are scrambling for money to fund even basic services.

For instance, California recently passed a law restricting the sale of soda, candy and fried chips in elementary and middle schools. But written into the bill was a provision that it can't take effect until funding becomes available to replace the vending machine revenue, raising concerns it may never be implemented.

Health advocates say the choice between nutrition and revenue is a false one. By offering nutritious items that also taste good, schools can keep kids healthy without giving up vending-machine dollars, Wootan said.

"A lot of schools have replaced soft drinks with healthier foods and they have not lost money," Wootan said.

Major vending companies say they are protected from bans and restrictions since they offer a range of products.

"It's a real asset of Pepsi Bottling Group system to offer a wide portfolio of products, from good-for-you products like Aquafina water or Dole fruit juices to fun products like Mountain Dew or Pepsi," said Kelly McAndrew, a spokeswoman for Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. School vending makes up less than 1 percent of the company's total revenue, she said.

Indeed, in many vending contracts, decisions about what products to offer are made by administrators and teachers, in concert with the vending company.

Critics expressed concern not only about nutritional value, but also about big companies getting a captive and impressionable audience for their marketing message.

"We were told Coke makes very little money on our five-year exclusive contract so the implication is they're in the schools mainly to brand our kids," said Brita Butler-Wall, director of Seattle-based Citizens Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools.

A Coca-Cola Co. spokeswoman declined to specify financial terms of school contracts, but said, "We are in the schools because the schools are asking us to be there. We want our beverages to be wherever thirsty people are."

The Seattle school district earns about $330,000 a year from its vending machine contracts, Butler-Wall said.

"Soft drink and other food companies are in schools to make sales now and also to cultivate brand loyalty so they can sell to children for the rest of their lives," Wootan said.

Some companies are taking notice and trying to stay ahead of the curve on legislation. Earlier this month, Kraft Foods Inc. said it would stop marketing in schools.

[yonif]

vending machines may no longer be part of the "in" crowd in American high schools. At least, that is the hope of some legislators and health advocates.

I'm sorry, but I disagree with this policy. Instead of highschools focusing on teaching students about what the real world is and taking responsibility for one's actions, they are treating students like babies. When I was a senior, in 2002, my public school required Bathroom passes, drink passes, staying in the cafeteria during lunch, etc. It was stupid baby rules. I mean comeon. Thankfully this was the only year I spent in public high school, the 3 others I spent overseas in two countries (which schools I went to treated you as an adult in highschool).

Also, teachers have to take part in this too. For example, teachers had "bathroom duty" where students using the bathroom had to sign in and sign out. Can you imagine? We pay teachers to sit in front of the bathroom? Give me a break.

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[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

I think children should be kept on leashes until they're eighteen.

[4mycountry]

Baby rules stink. Come on, please. What are those things FOR, anyway? I can understand with a k-3rd, or even k-4th, but high school? Why do they keep them all the way up? Hall passes and drink passes, that's just stupid.

Thank God I'm homeschooled.

[4mycountry]

Woof. :)

[ladylib]

You are lucky you homeschool. If kids realize they had other options rather than public schools, the schools would close down.

http://www.pilambda.org/horizons/v81-4g/baines-stanley.pdf

According to this latest study (where they actually asked students how they felt about school), most kids don't like school at all.

[Mitchell]

Ping.

[petitfour]

But health advocates say education is not enough; schools should encourage good eating habits by offering healthy items like milk and unsalted pretzels while cutting access to junk foods. Unsalted pretzels are good for you? On what planet? I've also read and heard a good bit of info about milk not being the most nutritious beverage. I remember my days in junior high and high school. I only ate lunch in junior high when they served pizza. I ate fundraiser candy bars during lunch in high school IF I ate anything at all. Most of the time, I didn't even go to the lunchroom. Nasty place! I make lunch for our children usually. Lunchroom foods do not seem to have improved at all over the years. One school our oldest child attended sold fruits and pickles during lunch. That was a really good public school where the administration cared and listened to parents. It was almost like a private school. The other schools we've experienced have been parts of BIG bureaucratic school districts. A nutritious lunch consists of a honeybun and syrupy fruit cocktail followed by a cup of Kraft vanilla pudding. And served with milk or sweetened fruit juice for the lactose challenged. And folks wonder why children are getting fat! As for vending machines, I don't see how they can do any more harm than the stuff served in cafeterias.

[4mycountry]

School is good...unless it's summer school...*grumblegrumble*

[judgeandjury]

Last month, for example, the largest U.S. school district -- located in New York City -- decided to ban soft drinks, sweet snacks and candy from its vending machines.

I don't see anything in the article that says students can't bring soft drinks, sweet snacks, and candy with them to school. Students just can no longer buy these snack items out of the school's vending machines. I see this as a minor inconvenience to the students who want to continue eating these particular snack items at school.

[Salman]

Hmmm. When I was in college in the late 80's, there was a vending machine in the basement of the Student Union building. It was next to the elevators. This was close the portal to the passage from the computer lab (beneath another building). One floor up on the elevator (ground floor) was the bookstore and the cafeteria, so it was a high traffic area.

The vending machine was one of the glass fronted metal spiral kind that vends one package of whatever by rotating a metal spiral to push the package off an internal ledge to be retrieved from the bin below, after you watch it drop.

Among the choices were various candy bars, popcorn, chips, chewing gum, breath mints, and condoms.

And the peanut butter cheese crackers that are the closest thing computer science students get to real food when not visting Mom.

[freepatriot32]

Last month, for example, the largest U.S. school district -- located in New York City -- decided to ban soft drinks, sweet snacks and candy from its vending machines.

condoms and diaphrams will still be passed around like m& m's however because that has no negative health impact on students at all right ?