RE: SB 1566 (Escutia) OPPOSE

Dear Senator Vasconcellos:

On behalf of the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), I am writing to express our opposition to Senate Bill 1566 (Escutia), which amends provisions of Senate Bill 19 (Chapter 913, Statutes of 2001) and provisions of Senate Bill 677 (Chapter 415, Statutes of 2003) and is scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, April 21.

Grocery Manufacturers of America is the world’s largest association of food, beverage and consumer product companies. Led by a board of 46 Chief Executive Officers, GMA applies legal, scientific and political expertise from its more than 140 member companies to vital public policy issues affecting its membership. The association also leads efforts to increase productivity, efficiency and growth in the food, beverage and consumer products industry. With U.S. sales of more than $500 billion, GMA members employ more than 2.5 million workers in all 50 states, including over 300 facilities employing more than 70,000 California residents.

GMA and its member companies share the author’s concerns about preventing childhood obesity and encouraging healthy eating habits. We believe, as do many nutrition experts, that solving the obesity problem is about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and achieving the proper energy balance. The rise in obesity is the result of many complex factors affecting eating and activity behaviors and there are no simple solutions. 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. Unfortunately, the provisions in Senate Bill 1566 do not recognize this reality.

California law already requires that at least 50 percent of all food items sold any day at any site on school premises be selected from the list of nutritious foods, including dairy products, juices which are at least 50 percent full strength fruit juice, fruits and vegetables, grains, meats, legumes and some snack items such as pretzels and popcorn. Further, California law prohibits the sale of carbonated beverages at elementary schools and at middle schools until ½ hour after the end of the school day (as of July 1, 2004).

Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations prohibit the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined in 7 CFR Ch. 11, in the food service areas during the lunch period. These federal guidelines also require that vending machines in the lunch areas be non-operational during times that meals are served. Stricter enforcement of USDA guidelines is a more reasonable and effective solution to the issues facing the students of California.

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.

California’s students are not receiving adequate or effective nutrition education or opportunities for meaningful physical activity. GMA 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, I respectfully request your NO vote on SB 1566 when it is heard in Committee

Sincerely,

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