Lawmakers to push legislation to curb sale of junk foods

Massachusetts lawmakers will resume efforts this fall to crack down on certain junk foods in schools, empowered by a new congressional report that sets standards for school nutrition.

In one measure, they will debate whether to restrict schools from selling certain junk foods, and, in a second measure, they are proposing a ban on all corporate advertisements, including those that pitch unhealthy foods and soft drinks.

The junk food bill would require schools to offer a healthier selection of foods, such as items with zero trans-fats and less than 200 calories per portion.

Students would still have access to vending machines, but during the school day their lunchrooms would replace snacks like fried potato chips and whole milk with baked chips and low-fat milk and offer dried fruit, nuts, and caffeine-free beverages.

"I've heard so many stories about parents giving their children a few dollars for lunch and instead the child goes to the vending machines and buys a couple of sodas and a couple of bags of cookies," said state Representative Peter Koutoujian, cochairman of the Public Health Committee, which approved the junk food and advertising bills last week.

"This is the norm in our public schools, and it needs to stop," he said.

The legislation was proposed following local, federal, and previous state attempts to combat childhood obesity, blamed for a rise in diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and other health issues among young people.

A federal wellness policy, implemented last year, forced local school districts to take a comprehensive look at their offerings.

Similar school nutrition bills have been filed in the past two years, but Koutoujian said he is confident the bill will pass this year because it sets standards consistent with an April 2007 report from the Institute of Medicine.

The report, commissioned by Congress and written with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends the appropriate nutritional content for foods sold in schools.

Schools in Ashland, Boston, Cambridge, Framingham, Needham, Newton, Topsfield, Westborough, and Worcester are all making efforts to offer healthier foods and reduce those with a higher fat content, according to school officials and local health advocates.

About three years ago, the Worcester public schools eliminated all sugared beverages, and the Boston Public Schools reduced the portion size of snacks and replaced fried products with baked products, school officials said.

Advocates for healthier school meals say that while children are in the state's care, the state should serve them healthy foods.

"We have Type 2 diabetes skyrocketing out of control," said Geoffrey Wilkinson, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. "We really need to make schools safe places to eat, and good places where kids learn how to eat well."

At Framingham High School, parents have helped with the push for healthier foods. Almost two years ago, parents selling concessions began offering healthier snacks as a stipulation to a wellness grant the school received. Some parents were concerned that profits would dip, and for a couple of months they did.

Students initially turned up their noses at the applesauce, yogurt, and other healthy choices on the menu.

Chris Petersen, a volunteer with the Parent Teacher Booster Organization, said they especially missed the M&M's. "Sometimes they'd walk away, and other times they'd come back and buy what we had," Petersen said.

But students warmed up to the leaner items, and Framingham is currently in the process of implementing healthier changes districtwide.

April Simpson can be reached at asimpson@globe.com.