California Legislature Votes to Limit School Soda and Junk Food Sales (K-12)

On September 15, 2005 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed landmark legislation establishing the most rigorous nutrition standards in the country for foods and beverages sold on public school campuses K-12.

With the enactment of SB 12 and SB 965, California has made the most important gains in school nutrition since school lunch was introduced after World War II.  The passage of these bills represents a critical step in addressing the growing epidemic of overweight children.

Thank-you to all PTA members, units, councils, and districts who voiced their support for these bills and helped make this victory possible.

SB 12 Bans School Junk Food (K-12)

SB 12 established nutrition standards for any food sold anywhere on school campuses K-12 outside the school meal program. Those include foods sold a la carte, in vending machines, in school stores, or as part of a school fundraiser. The bill established limits on fat and sugar content and portion size. Nutrition standards go into effect July 1, 2007.

• Strengthens and implements the competitive food standards originally described in SB 19 (Escutia, 2001).

• An individually sold snack may have no more than:

• 35% of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts, nut butters, seeds, eggs, vegetables that have not been deep-fried, and cheese packaged for individual sale).

• 10% of its calories from saturated fat (excluding eggs and cheese packaged for individual sale).

• 35% sugar by weight (excluding fruits and vegetables).

• 175 calories (elementary schools)

• 250 calories (middle and high schools)

•  An individually sold entree may have no more than:

• 4 grams of fat per 100 calories

• 400 calories

• And must qualify under the federal meal program

2. FUNDING: SB 12 does not contain a requirement that the state increase funding to the federal meal program before implementing nutrition standards for competitive foods.

3. IMPLEMENTATION DATE: All food standards become effective July 1, 2007.

4. SALE TO PUPILS: Nutrition standards apply only to the sale of items to pupils and do not apply to foods brought from home. All groups selling or serving food on campus to pupils are required to follow the standards.

5. FUNDRAISING EXEMPTIONS: Foods that do not meet the standards may be sold at least one-half hour after the end of the school-day or off the school premises.

 SB 965 Bans Soda Sales in High School

Reducing soda consumption is one of the most promising strategies for addressing the epidemic of overweight children. SB 965 defined school beverage standards for high schools, eliminating the sale of soda and other sweetened beverages on high school campuses in California. Similar standards had already been established for elementary and middle schools through SB 677 (Ortiz, 2003). Half of beverages sold on high school campuses must meet these standards by July 1, 2007. All beverages sold on high school campuses must meet these standards by July 1, 2009.

 The enactment of SB 965 will mean the following for high schools:

• Starting July 1, 2007, 50 percent of the beverages sold to pupils from one-half hour before the start of the school day until one-half hour after the school day must be from the following list:

• Fruit-based and vegetable-based drinks that are at least 50 percent fruit juice without added sweeteners

• Drinking water without added sweeteners 

• Milk products including two-percent, one-percent, nonfat, soy, rice and other similar non-dairy milk

• An electrolyte replacement beverage that contains no more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving

• Starting July 1, 2009, ALL beverages sold to pupils from one-half hour before the start of the school day until one-half hour after the school day must be from the above list.

• Current beverage standards for elementary and middle schools will remain in effect.