Bill Text: NJ A1182 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits sale on school property of certain foods during school breakfast and lunch periods.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A1182 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A1182-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA STENDER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits sale on school property of certain foods during school breakfast and lunch periods.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning pupil health and supplementing chapter 33 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. the number of children and adolescents who are obese or overweight has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Between 10% and 15% of young people aged six to 17 years are now considered overweight or obese;
b. overweight and obese children are often seriously affected by discrimination, psychological stress, poor body image and low self-esteem;
c. overweight and obese children have an elevated risk for long-term health problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma and certain cancers. In fact, 60% of overweight five-to 10-year-old children already have at least one risk factor for heart disease;
d. according to a report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, which cause more than 70% of all deaths in the United States, are rooted in risk factors that are usually established during youth, including unhealthy diet, inadequate physical activity and obesity;
e. eating patterns are established in childhood and 80% of obese adolescents become obese adults. Thus, health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to prevent the chronic diseases associated with obesity is to establish policies and programs that encourage children and adolescents to develop healthy eating and exercise habits that they can maintain throughout their lives;
f. healthy eating also plays an important role in learning and cognitive development. A child who is physically healthy is more likely to be academically motivated, alert and successful; conversely, poor diet has a negative impact on the ability to learn and decreases motivation and attentiveness; and,
g. the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites the increased consumption by children of calorie-dense foods like candy, soda and chips as a major cause of childhood obesity. Thus, the practice of selling such foods to school children in competition with their school breakfast and lunch programs must stop.
2. a. A public elementary or middle school shall not sell or permit to be sold on school property during the school breakfast period and the school lunch period any soft drink or juice product that is less than 100% real fruit or vegetable juice, any candy bar, hard candy or chewing gum, or any other food or drink that consists of more than 35% sugar or other sweetener or more than eight grams of fat per serving.
b. The Commissioner of Education shall promulgate and distribute to school districts guidelines to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately, but shall not vacate any contract existing prior to its enactment until the expiration of the original terms of the contract.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits the sale of certain junk foods and sodas in elementary and middle schools during the school breakfast period and the school lunch period. It is intended to address the growing problem of childhood obesity. Specifically, the bill prohibits public elementary and middle schools from selling or permitting to be sold on school property during the school breakfast period and the school lunch period any soft drink or juice product that is less than 100% real fruit or vegetable juice, any candy bar, hard candy or chewing gum, or any other food or drink that consists of more than 35% sugar or other sweetener or more than eight grams of fat per serving.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared that obesity is rising at an epidemic rate. This epidemic reaches not just American adults, but also our youth. The number of children and adolescents who are obese or overweight has more than doubled in the last 30 years. In fact, between 10% and 15% of young people aged six to 17 years are now considered overweight.
Overweight and obese children are at higher risk for long-term health problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma and certain cancers. Sixty percent of overweight five- to ten-year-old children already have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Eighty percent of obese adolescents become obese adults.
According to a recent CDC report, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, which cause more than 70% of all deaths in the United States, are rooted in risk factors that are usually established during youth, including unhealthy diet, inadequate physical activity and obesity. Health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to prevent these diseases is to establish policies and programs that encourage children and adolescents to develop healthy eating and exercise habits they can maintain throughout their lives.
Healthy eating also plays an important role in learning and cognitive development. A child who is physically healthy is more likely to be academically motivated, alert and successful. Conversely, poor diet has a negative impact on the ability to learn and decreases motivation and attentiveness.
This bill would combat childhood obesity by denying pupils access to calorie-dense junk food while school breakfasts and lunches are being served.
