National School Food and Beverage Standards: A Historical Perspective Katie Wilson, PhD, SNS President-elect and Chair, National Nutrition Standards Task Force

What’s best for children! The Goal What’s best for children!

What we’ve heard? Solicited input through: Nutrition Standards Summit, CNIC 2009 Nutrition Committee Industry Patron Members Mega Issue Discussion at National Leadership Conference Town Hall Meeting at LAC 2007

SNA members and industry would like… Science-based standards Standards that pre-empt state and local standards Standards that apply to Child Nutrition Programs: NSLP SBP After-school Snacks Summer Food Service Program

They would also like… Standards that apply to other foods sold or consumed during the school day, such as: School Parties Fundraisers A la Carte Vending No standards for after school and evening activities, such as concessions at games, PTA/PTO meetings, etc.

Process SNA appointed a task force to draft national standards Gathered comments from all SNA member segments: Posted drafted standards on SNA website Encouraged members to comment on standards Held a “Nutrition Summit” at CNIC 2008

Outcomes Task Force reviewed: Existing state and local standards Standards developed by other organizations, such as the Institute of Medicine and Alliance for a Healthier Generation Task Force drafted: Guiding Principles Proposed standards for foods and beverages sold/served within reimbursable meal programs Proposed standards for foods and beverages outside reimbursable meal programs within the school day

Nutrition Summit Process Presentations by: Institute of Medicine Alliance for a Healthier Generation SNA

Nutrition Summit A group of approximately 100 SNA state and national leaders and industry participated in Nutrition Summit, specifically examined four key areas (Contentious Content Standards): Need for sugar standards for milk/dairy products Need for sodium standards Definition of whole grain (51%) Pre-emption

Group Process The three groups examined four key issue areas Unanimously agree/disagree Substantial majority (60%) agree/disagree Split decision (less than 60% consensus)

Contentious Content Standard #1 Sugar levels in milk and dairy products should be quantified. Yellow Group Blue Group Red Group Substantial Majority – should be quantified Unanimous Consent – should be quantified Comments: Would like a range for sugar levels What about establishing calorie range instead of sugar levels?

Contentious Content Standard #2 Sodium levels should be quantified. Yellow Group Blue Group Red Group Unanimous Consent – should be quantified Comments: Suggest quantification over a week for school meals Suggest quantification for individual food items outside reimbursable meal and snacks -Suggest a range

Contentious Content Standard #3 Whole grain definition should mean a minimum of 51% whole grain. Yellow Group Blue Group Red Group Unanimous Consent – should be 51% Substantial Majority – should be 51% Comments: Would clear up current discrepancies and confusion Will require education and training Should mean that the whole grain ingredients add up to 51% or that whole grain is the primary ingredient

Contentious Content Standard #4 Federal standards should pre-empt state and local standards. Yellow Group Blue Group Red Group Unanimous Consent – should pre-empt, minus 1 Substantial Majority – should pre-empt Comments: Consistency, ease of training, hard to hit a moving target, Less costly for industry and schools Maximum efficiency

Other issues/questions Will need changes in commodities to meet the standards Training and education will be critical 100% juice (concern with not allowing 100% juice + water products) Concerns with fruit only packed in water or natural juices Concerns with meeting fruit, vegetable and legume recommendations What is the position on non-nutritive sweeteners? Should we be looking at fat in terms of grams instead of %? Concerns about financial implications Customer acceptance is key!

Next Steps Task force to carefully review all comments and outcomes from Nutrition Summit and revise drafted national standards- LAC 2008. Meet with IOM, AHG, CSPI, ADA to build support. Present revised draft to SNA Board of Directors for review and approval. Publicize standards and seek support from key stakeholders. Seek support of National Nutrition standards as regulations, rather than law.

Revisions We studied the issue. We listened to all of you. We worked through revisions to meet the needs that were expressed by the majority of voices. We are now ready to take them to the SNA Executive Board in April 2008. We will publicize after board approval. We will take them to our PPL committee, Senator Harkin and USDA after board approval.

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION