DT: August 24, 2001

RE: SB 19 (Escutia) OPPOSE

Californians for Sensible School Nutrition Policy, a coalition of food and beverage companies and broad-based industry and education trade associations, is strongly opposed to SB 19, legislation proposing overly restrictive standards on foods sold in schools. Californians for Sensible School Nutrition Policy supports local control and the development of nutrition education and physical activity programs in California's communities. SB 19 is scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, August 29.

SB 19 Fails to Address the Real Causes of Obesity · The rise in childhood obesity is the result of many complex factors affecting eating and activity habits, including social and environmental factors, as well as culture and biology. Focusing attention exclusively on just one issue - foods and beverages sold in schools - is counterproductive and a totally inadequate response to a serious public health issue.

· A "24-7 approach" to developing healthy lifestyles is a far more productive approach to this important concern. Experts agree that a healthy lifestyle requires focusing on diet and physical activity. How much we eat in relation to how many calories we burn off each day is critical. The most important steps for parents and teachers is to encourage and educate children that to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to engage in at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity, eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids.

SB 19 Usurps Local Control · The restrictive provision of this bill prevents local school authorities from making decisions based on their individual needs and desires. Usurping local control over what foods a school system chooses to sell outside existing federal and state nutrition guidelines is unwarranted and needlessly impinges upon local autonomy.

SB 19 is Burdensome and Costly · The new mandates imposed by the bill will place unnecessary burdens on already over-burdened and understaffed schools and absorbs funds that could be spent on the state's recovery from the energy crisis. Moreover, the bill will arbitrarily remove a source of supplemental income used by many schools to pay for a variety of school activities and programs, such as athletic programs, arts and theater activities, foreign language classes, and anti-violence/anti-drug initiatives.

· SB 19 will cost the State over $150 million beginning in 2003 and annually thereafter.

Adequate State and Federal School Nutrition Standards Already Exist · California law already requires that half of all foods sold in schools outside the federal school lunch program shall be selected from a prescribed "list of nutritious foods," including dairy products, juices with at least 50% fruit juice, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, grains, meats, legumes and some snack items such as pretzels, crackers and popcorn.

· USDA regulations already prohibit food and beverages of minimal nutritional value from being sold during the school lunch period.

· The bill applies fat and saturated fat standards to individual foods, as opposed to the total diet over time. For example, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that the total diet contain no more than 30 percent of calories from fat and less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat.

California's students are not receiving adequate or effective nutrition education or opportunities for meaningful physical education. Californians for Sensible School Nutrition Policy supports the development of coordinated, comprehensive nutrition education and physical education programs, particularly for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

For the reasons listed above, Californians for Sensible School Nutrition Policy respectfully request your NO vote on SB 19.

cc: Senator Escutia Members, Assembly Committee on Education Mary Kaems, Speaker's Office Richard Figueroa, Governor's Office

Membersas of July 3, 2001 American Bakers Association California Association of Directors of Activities California Association of Student Leaders California Automatic Vendors Council California Chamber of Commerce California Grocers Association California League of Food Processors California Nevada Soft Drink Association Chocolate Manufacturers Association California Restaurant Association California Retailers Association Dairy Institute of California Grocery Manufacturers of America International Dairy Foods Association Jelly Belly Candy Company National Automatic Merchandising Association National Confectioners Association National Soft Drink Association See's Candies, Inc. Snack Foods Association Western Candy Conference