July 30, 2008 -- Two reports on food marketing aimed at children were released on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. The reports, issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB), provide a concrete look at how food manufacturers direct their advertising towards children.
In 2006, food companies spent approximately $1.6 billion on food marketing directed at children, according to the report released by the FTC. The report found that approximately $870 million was spent on marketing to children under age 12, while just over $1 billion was spent on marketing to adolescents. About $300 million overlapped between the two age groups. Most of the products advertised were soda, fast food, and cereal. A significant portion of the advertising involved integrated campaigns, combining traditional broadcast and print advertising with other mediums such as sweepstakes, in-store advertising, and the Internet. Many of the advertising campaigns were also cross-promotions, tying food and beverage products to movies, television shows, and animated characters.
Food manufacturers are making strides to limit the amount of advertising directed at children. The Council of Better Business Bureaus released a report yesterday examining the organization’s Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative.
In 2006, 10 major food companies and the CBBB agreed to the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative. Since then, 14 companies have agreed to participate. In joining the initiative, the companies pledged to either stop advertising to children or limit campaigns to only better-for-you products. According to the report, many of the participating food companies have made progress, such as reformulating recipes, promoting nutrition and healthy lifestyle messages, and adjusting child-directed advertising strategies. Advocates, however, argue that more progress is still needed.
Tug of War in Food Marketing to Children Better Business Bureau Report (pdf)Federal Trade Commission Report
July 29, 2008 -- The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings, owned by The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX), have announced they will continue the Love Your Veggies™ grant program, this year offering $15,000 grants to 10 elementary schools in the United States. With support from the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) and Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), the grant program will once again seek to help schools execute innovative programs that will increase the access to, and consumption of, fresh fruits and vegetables in schools.
Grant awards will be based on proposals that demonstrate need, innovation, greatest likelihood of sustainable impact on the students they are serving and potential for community involvement. Funding must be spent on any of the following efforts: fresh produce, a vegetable station, kitchen equipment, program staffing, nutrition education resources and food safety training.
Elementary schools interested in applying for a Love Your Veggies™ grant for their students may do so online at www.LoveYourVeggiesGrants.org. Schools can apply for a grant beginning Aug. 15 and applications will be accepted through Nov. 7, 2008. Grant recipients will be selected by representatives of Hidden Valley®, SNF and PBH, and will be notified by March of 2009.
Now in its third consecutive year, the Love Your Veggies™ grant program was initially created to help schools implement a federally mandated local wellness policy that requires schools to develop and execute programs to improve their students’ overall health and nutrition, and in response to an overwhelming shortage of funds available for the execution of these programs.
The grant program took root after a study found that children consumed 23 percent more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing* - and has grown into a campaign that continues to provide additional ways to get kids to love and eat their veggies. Since its inception in 2006, the Love Your Veggies™ grant program has awarded more than a half a million dollars to elementary schools across the country, helping to affect change in the diets of thousands of children.
*2006 study with two Northern California elementary schools conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Butte County Cooperative Extension
July 28, 2008 -- The School Nutrition Association (SNA) Nominating Committee met last week in Philadelphia to select a slate of candidates for the 2008 election ballot. After carefully studying the biographical information,supporting documents and goals for each candidate, the Nominating Committee selected the following official slate of candidates for the 2008 SNA ballot. Winners of this year’s election will be installed in July 2009 to serve on the 2009-2011 SNA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. If you have any questions about the SNA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee Regional Representatives election slate, please contact SNA.
CDC Releases New Obesity Statistics
July 18, 2008 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new statistics detailing the levels of overweight and obesity in the United States. The statistics, released this week, are similar to the CDC’s 2007 figures. The states with the highest rates of overweight and obesity included Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, with over 30 percent of the population overweight. Colorado came in last with only 19 percent considered overweight.
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 4 adults are overweight. The South reported the highest weight with at least 27 percent of the population, while the West reported the smallest percentage of the population at 22 percent. The CDC argues that cultural practices are a contributing factor.
July 10, 2008 -- SNA President-elect Dr. Katie Wilson presented the SNA National School Nutrition Standards before the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Wilson presented the recommendations during an open meeting of the Committee on National Standards for the School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.
During her presentation, Wilson highlighted the major points of the standards:
Wilson also stated that SNA would like the recommended meal pattern requirements to be simple, practical, and cost effective to implement. The recommended meal pattern requirements need to adhere to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A significant amount of flexibility is also needed in order to meet the needs of all students.
The SNA National School Nutrition Standards were developed by the SNA National School Food and Beverage Standards Task Force. The goal of the task force was "to provide schools with a set of practical nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools, while promoting a positive eating environment and teaching children lifelong healthy eating habits." The task force collaborated with a wide group of community stakeholders to develop the standards.
Other presenters at the IOM committee meeting included representatives from organizations such the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the Food Research and Action Center, and the National PTA. State agency directors from North Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia presented on their experiences in implementing their own state school nutrition standards. Several representatives from major food companies, including Con Agra, Pierre Foods, General Mills, and the Schwan's Food Company, also were on hand.
IOM School Meals Review Committee Meeting
July 10, 2008 -- From ABC World News and the front page of the Washington Post to the NBC Today Show and CNN/Money: the second quarter of 2008 saw a record number of media impressions for the School Nutrition Association. On a quarterly basis, SNA is reporting on its continued efforts to promote healthy school meals and the work of school nutrition professionals to provide balanced, nutritious meals to students in school. From April to the end of June we saw the challenge of adequate funding and rising food costs dominate SNA media relations efforts. Additional topics included food safety of beef and tomatoes, global child nutrition month, summer feeding, regional award winners, automated payment systems and more. SNA received an average of 7 calls from reporter per week this quarter – up from 5 last quarter. Additionally, over 100 proactive pitches to media outlets were made during the quarter. SNA public affairs staff, SNA’s public relations firm and the over 40 members of the SNA Spokesperson Network conveyed key Association messages to an estimated audience of over 21 million people. This represents an increase from 16 million during the second quarter of last year, and record media coverage for one quarter for SNA. So far in 2008 SNA has reached an audience of over 30 million. Highlights from second quarter public awareness activities include:
Proactive/earned media
Areas of Outreach
Incoming Calls and Response
July 9, 2008 -- At a hearing of the House Education and Labor Committee today titled "The Rising Cost of Food and It's Impact on the School Nutrition Programs," SNA president elect Dr. Katie Wilson testified that rising food costs are just one of the factors that are driving up the cost to prepare and serve healthy school meals. Indirect costs charged by school districts to school nutrition programs, the higher cost of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, and costs associated with the lack of uniformity in school nutrition standards between districts and states have combined with rising food, fuel and labor costs to result in the estimated 11.6% increase in the cost of preparing and serving nutritious meals that schools have witnessed this year.
Dr. Wilson pointed to several key recommendations that would help address the financial shortfall that school nutrition programs are experiencing:
SNA member Pavel Matustik, Chief Administrative Officer of Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency also testified at the hearing, along with representatives from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and the USDA Economic Research Service.
See Related Links to access the full testimony presented at the hearing.
July 8, 2008 -- The July issue of Pediatrics included the article "School Food Environments and Policies in US Public Schools" by authors Daniel M. Finkelstein, Elaine L. Hill, and Robert C. Whitaker. The article concludes that as children move to higher grade levels, their school food environments become less healthy. The research, based on the USDA School Nutrition Dietary Assessment III (SNDA III) study, found a majority of US secondary schools sell items a la carte in the cafeteria and through vending machines, and these two sources often contain low-nutrient, energy-dense foods and beverages. The researchers based their conclusion on a tally of the number of vending machines installed at 395 schools spread across 129 school districts in 38 states, as well as on a nutritional analysis of the kinds of foods stocked in the machines or offered up a la carte in school cafeterias and snack bars.
According to the study, in 2005, vending machines were found in 17% of elementary schools, 82% of middle schools and 97% of high schools - a la carte items were sold in 71%, 92% and 93% of schools, respectively. Elementary schools were found to have significantly healthier food environments and policies than secondary schools. Researchers found less than 20% of schools with vending and a la carte offerings free of low-nutrient energy-dense foods. It is important to note the report does not fully reflect all of the changes made as a result of schools implementing local school wellness policies. In 2006, following the collection of this data, schools were required to develop and implement a wellness policy which addressed nutrition, nutrition education and physical activity. Significant changes have occurred following the implementation of these wellness policies. Today, school nutrition programs are offering more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and more low-fat dairy than ever before, and less high fat foods. According to the SNA From Cupcakes to Carrots study, published in September 2007, 96% of schools included a la carte foods and 92% included vending in their wellness policy standards. Over 75% of schools report successfully implementing or are in the process of implementation of wellness standards for both vending and a la carte offerings. 2007 School Nutrition Operations Report and the 2007 SNA School Trends Report surveyed school nutrition directors to explore changes and track changes occurring in school districts across the country. The reports found 81.3% of districts are increasing the availability of healthier beverages in vending machines, 73.6% are reducing/limiting trans fat content, 68.8% are increasing the availability of fresh fruits/vegetables on a la carte lines and/or vending machines and 68.3% are limiting the hours of operation/availability of vending machines. 73.1% of school districts are limiting the fat content of a la carte and/or vending items up from 38.4% in 2004.
The SNA reports also found notable changes in the beverages available to students through vending machines. Water, now the top-ranked beverage in vending machines, is cited by 96.8% of school nutrition directors surveyed, and shows a consistent increase from 2004, when it was cited by 88.1%. Other beverages that are becoming increasingly more prevalent are 50% to 100% juice, iced tea, and reduced-fat/skim milk. In contrast, the availability of fruit drinks (less than 50% juice) and whole milk continue to decline, with whole milk dropping to 10% from a high of 27.4% in 2004.
The 2006 School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) findings were also consistent with trends seen in the 2007 School Nutrition Operations Report and the 2007 SNA School Trends Report. SHPPS reported increases in low fat a la carte foods such as vegetables, salads, and low fat yogurt and an increase in healthy preparation practices like the use of low fat dairy, reducing sodium in recipes and steaming instead of frying.
School nutrition programs will continue to make impressive strides to offer students balanced nutritious meals as well as healthy a la carte and vending options. SNA remains committed to ensuring healthy foods and beverages are available in schools and supports the adoption of national uniform school food and beverage standards.
July 7, 2008 -- USDA's Food and Nutrition Service has published the reimbursement rates for the 2008-09 school year. The rates are effective as of July 1, 2008. The basic rate (Section 4 and Section 11 funds) for lunch in the 48 contiguous states is 24¢ - an increase of one cent from last school year. Free lunches will be reimbursed at $2.57 per meal - up from $2.47 last year. Reduced price lunch reimbursement is now $2.17 up from $2.07 last year. Paid breakfast reimbursement rates went up one cent to 25¢ and free breakfast is now $1.40 while reduced-price breakfast is now $1.10 in non-severe need districts. In severe need districts, free breakfast is now $1.68 and reduced-price breakfast is $1.38. Paid breakfast is reimbursed at $0.25 a meal. To review the rate charts and notices including new reimbursement rates for Alaska and Hawaii, please see Related Links.
July 3, 2008 -- The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a full committee hearing titled "The Rising Cost of Food and It's Impact on the School Nutrition Programs" on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at 10:00 AM. Witnesses should be announced shortly. A live webcast of the hearing will be provided through the Committee's website. SNA has been discussing the cost and funding issue with Committee staff since April. The rising cost of school meals continues to capture headlines throughout the country. Since April, SNA has tracked an average of 100 news articles a month concerning escalating school meal prices. Major news organizations, including the Washington Post, ABC News, NBC, the Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, CNN/Money, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today, have covered this story. See related links for additional information on the hearing.
July 2, 2008 -- Combine a first-rate conference and a one-of-a-kind city, and you have the recipe for one memorable meeting. In order to maximize your ANC experience, be sure to take note of these last minute reminders before you head to Philly.
Hotel Accommodations There are still some rooms available at a couple of the contracted ANC Hotels but they are filling up fast! To view the available hotels and reserve your room, click on “ANC Hotels” in the Related Links. You may make your reservations online or call the number listed on the housing page. If you are having difficulties in reserving a room please contact Cheryl Thompson, Director of Meetings, at (703) 739-3900, ext. 130.
Shuttle ServiceComplimentary shuttle bus service will be available to most of the official SNA hotels. Regular service will run to and from the Convention Center beginning Saturday, July 19 and will run throughout the conference. For shuttle routes and hours of operation, click on “Shuttle Service” in the Related Links.
RegistrationANC conference registrants should check in at Registration starting Friday afternoon, July 18th. Registration is located in the Grand Hall of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
If you haven’t registered yet for ANC, it’s not too late…you may still register onsite! To get an onsite registration form, click on “Onsite Registration Form” in the Related Links, or call the Service Center at (800) 877-8822.
Registration hours are as follows:
Friday, July 18
12:00 pm-5:00 pm
Saturday, July 19
7:30 am-5:00 pm
Sunday, July 20
Monday, July 21
Tuesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 23
7:30 am-12:00 pm
ANC Philly Goes Green!Have you heard that ANC has gone green this year? One of the ways SNA has done this is by providing all education session handouts online. Handouts will be available July 11 for download from the ANC 2008 section of SchoolNutrition.org. These handouts also will be available online after the conference and all attendees will receive disk in their conference bag to access handouts back at home. In an effort to help preserve our environment, please do your part by printing handouts only if necessary.
Wellness Event to End World HungerMonday, July 21, 6:00-6:45 am Remember to wear your workout shoes for The Wellness Event to End World Hunger, where attendees will take a short walk in Philadelphia’s Kelly Park. When you take part in this wellness event, you’ll be joining your school nutrition colleagues and our Global delegates in showing support for stomping out world hunger. SNA Shuttle buses will depart from each bus route, as well as the Marriott, and transport attendees to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Final Event with Patti LaBelleWednesday, July 23, 8:00–9:30 pm Are you ready for an event that is sure to bring down the house? Then you won’t want to miss this year’s Final Event, featuring the unmistakable voice of legendary songstress Patti LaBelle. When this Grammy-award winning artist takes the stage, it’s more than just an evening of entertainment—it’s a high-energy, crowd-pleasing performance by one of the most renowned artists in all of music.
This memorable event is sure to be the highlight of ANC 2008, so put on your party shoes and plan to be there! The event will take place at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, July 23rd in the Convention Center. This 80-minute, power-packed show will be performed in a continuous format with no intermission. In order to receive admission to the concert, the ticket you received at Registration must be presented. Those without a ticket will not be admitted. This event does not include food or refreshments, so please take advantage of the hours before the event to venture out and get a taste of Philadelphia.
SNA staff have been working diligently to be sure you have the opportunity to enjoy everything ANC and Philadelphia have to offer. For additional details about ANC, including education sessions, featured speakers, events and more, please visit the ANC 2008 section of SNA’s website. See you in Philly!