A joint initiative by the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association – The Alliance for a Healthier Generation – has worked with the soft drinks industry to set new guidelines to reduce and limit the total number of calories in drinks sold at American schools.
The guidelines are aimed at allowing just low calorie and more nutritious drinks for sale at schools throughout the USA. According to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (The Alliance), about 35 million children and students will be affected.
School drinks will have no more than 100 calories each. For a drink to have more than 100 calories it must provide good nutritional value – such as some fruit juices and certain milks.
The Alliance, as well as working on the elimination of high calorie sodas from schools, also aims to create environments in which children can adopt healthier lifestyles.
The Alliance’s agreement with the beverage industry aims to have 75% of America’s schools abiding by the guidelines by the start of the 2008-2009 academic year.
President Clinton said ?This is an important announcement and a bold step forward in the struggle to help America’s kids live healthier lives. These industry leaders recognize that childhood obesity is a problem and have stepped up to help solve it. I commend them for being here today and for taking this important step. There is a lot of work to be done to turn this problem around but this is a big step in the right direction and it will help improve the diet of millions of students across the country.?
Mike Huckabee, head of The Alliance said, “This agreement is an important example of industry voluntarily working with others to address one of the most critical challenges facing our nation — childhood obesity. I commend the parties involved in this agreement and look forward to seeing its positive impact on the health of our children.”
Elementary schools will only sell 8 oz servings. Calories will be limited. Juices will have no sweeteners. Milk and flavoured milk drinks will be fat-free or low fat.
Middle schools will do the same as elementary schools, with serving sizes of 10 oz.
High schools will do the same as middle schools, but will also sell diet sodas, unsweetened tea, fitness water, low calorie sports drinks, flavoured water and seltzers. Half of all drinks available in high schools will be water. Light juices and sports drinks will be sold in 12 oz containers. Non-fat and low fat milks will also be sold in 12 oz containers.
Susan K. Neely, CEO, American Beverage Association, said, ?The American Beverage Association welcomes the opportunity to work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation in providing new beverage guidelines for schools. The new guidelines will continue our industry’s work to provide more lower-calorie and nutritious or functional beverages for students. Limiting calories in schools is a sensible approach that acknowledges our industry’s long-standing belief that school wellness efforts must focus on teaching kids to consume a balanced diet and be physically active.?
The guidelines, and the beverage industry’s agreement to comply with them, are the result of months of negotiations between The Alliance and the industry.
About The Alliance for a Healthier Generation
In May 2005, The American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation partnered to form The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Its aim is to combat childhood obesity in America. The Alliance focuses in four key areas:
— Industry
— Schools
— Healthcare Professionals
— Children
http://www.healthiergeneration.org
http://www.clintonfoundation.org