Since everyone seems to have decided that more regulation is needed to control the obesity problem in children, it's not all that surprising to see companies agreeing to curb advertising and limit the availability of products left and right. In this case, an agreement was reached with Kraft Foods Inc., Mars Inc., Campbell Soup Co., Dannon and PepsiCo Inc with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association where the companies agreed to cut back on some unhealthy snacks.
At least, they said that they would try to.
The companies voluntarily agreed to "discourage schools from stocking vending machines with treats that are high in calories, fat, sugar and salt" and increase their promotion of healthier foods, defined by those that meet the "guidelines backed by the American Heart Association." The problem with this agreement is that schools can still stock whatever they want to and, in some schools, the administration is going to continue to stock what sells: junk foods.
But how much of a difference do the school vending machines make anyway? Not all that much, according to some students. "Junk food is great," said 13-year-old Victor Jimenez. Carlos Rodriguez, 13. "Kids will buy what they want," he said. "We just stop by the bodega on the way home."
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
Iced Tea 101
Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-09-2006 @ 10:40AM
Angela Pitt said...
Despite the pitfalls that occured while Bill Clinton
was president; his post-presidential years have been
wonderful. I suppose he saw the light after is heart
surgery. Great for him and those will benefit from his
philanthropic efforts. YOU ROCK, MR. CLINTON!!!
Reply
10-09-2006 @ 12:43PM
guest1234567 said...
Sorry I'm an idiot.
William = Bill
Sorry #1. Sorry author.
Reply
10-09-2006 @ 1:07PM
Dawn said...
I used to live out the vending machines in high school. The school lunches at my school were awful and unnutrious. I used to get a diet dr pepper or bottled water, a bag of potatoe chips and a chocolate covered granola bar for lunch. If I were lucky they would stock the good vending machine with turkey, ham & cheese or roast beef sandwiches. Compare the vending machines to what the usually served ( a nasty cheese burger or casserole, some type of fried potatoes, milk and a nasty preservative filled fruit cup). I went to Columbus Public Schools. They made hospital food look like five star dining. The food was full of fat, preservatives and no flavor. All the food was premade and heated in ovens or fried in a large fryer. Maybe Bill Clinton needs to talk to school districts about feeding our kids better stuff.
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