December 3, 2007 - Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa and the chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, a sponsor the of the amendment, are hoping public interest can overcome wide ranging special interests intent on stopping the legislation. Dr. Jim Harris, author of the book, Thin in a Sea of Calories, A Weight Management Guide, applauds the effort to address overweight and obesity in children. He states, "Because overweight is a severe health problem pervasive throughout the country, Federal intervention is warranted." This groundbreaking effort to eliminate high fat foods, candy and soda from schools, including vending machines located in schools, wins high praise from many parents, but there remain loopholes that would allow sales of sports drinks, diet sodas and chocolate milk. The bill sets ambitious measures in five years to lower the calorie threshold to 25 calories per eight ounce serving of beverage. Saturated and trans fat will be limited, and there is a limit of 35 percent sugar. Snacks are limited to 180 calories per serving for kindergarten to eighth grade, and up to 200 calories per serving in high schools.
Director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Margo Wootan, is stunned that certain food activists would be opposed to the legislation. She states, "I do not understand why some groups would try to stand in the way of legislation that is going to get soda, snack cakes and other high-fat, high salt food out of virtually all schools [as quoted in the New York Times, 12/2/07]." Opposition to this amendment is surprising for Personal Fit, Weight Loss Guide staff as well. Personal Fit Public Policy champion Albert Guthrie states, "This legislation is a no-brainer. It represents a giant step forward in weight management for children who are most vulnerable to ad campaigns promoting unhealthy foods."
The American Beverage Association, which supports the amendment and worked with congress to draft the legislation, found rare common ground with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Susan Neely, president of the beverage association, as quoted by the New York Times, "This whole effort has momentum because of the variety of interests that have come together who do not usually find agreement."
Opposition to the amendment is coming from those who fear that federal legislation would limit even tighter controls on foods in schools hoped for through the state level legislation. We at Personal Fit, Weight Loss Guide, are in full concert with such ambitions, but welcome the proposed legislation as a significant attempt in managing weight for our most vulnerable members of society. Overweight in childhood often sets people on a course for the rest of their lives to be overweight. State level legislation has a poor track record in this area. Whatever we can do to help prevent childhood unhealthy eating is a positive step in the right direction.