Ban Junk Food From Vending Machines?
The two senators have attempted to introduce similar legislation in the past. Reuters suggests that the bill is more likely to be passed this time:
The measure could have a better chance of passing this year with U.S. President Barack Obama's administration recognizing obesity as a top U.S. health threat.
In the UK, a ban was introduced in September 2006 to prevent schools from selling chocolate, chips, and sodas. The UK also has minimal nutritional standards that meals must meet (you can find out more about the guidelines for UK schools here.) However, this doesn't tackle the problem of children buying junk food on their way to and from school.
With 32% of American kids considered overweight, and 16% obese, Harkin and Murkowski hope their bill will help reverse the childhood obesity trend. A number of consumer and health groups support the legislation: including the American Dietetic Association, the American Heart Association and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Do you find that your kids eat unhealthily at school? If you insist on healthy snack options at home, do you worry about them buying sodas, candy and chips - whether in school or on the way home?
(Image by Andrew Maiman)
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I am not American but I think my comment reflects the general trend in the west. Slowly we in the west are becoming wards of the Nanny States. It just scares me where all this leads to. I think I read too much Orwell in school. I wish we could reward accountablity some how.
ReplyI don't think this is an example of the nanny state. Schools are government run institutions. As such, the government can decided what it allows to be sold there.
ReplyYeah, Mike. Government schools can do whatever they want, with no limits. Fairness, due process, freedom, responsibility, and common sense are not allowed to determine the outcome. It's 100% pure politics in anything the government does. All questions are decided to maximize the political advantage, regardless of the harm to children or society or civilization. Government schools are a tool to advance political power. Period.
The government owns your children when they are at school. Butt out.
And also, shut up. Your government knows how you should live your life. You should thank them for telling you what choices to make. You're "partisan" and need (re-)"education" if you even hesitate to agree.
ReplyThere's a difference in a governmental agency saying that they are going to alter the environment to make it easier to succeed rather than mandating the environment all together. If the schools were inspecting packed lunches, etc., then you might have a case. Free choice is not the greatest thing to which we should aspire.
ReplyFree choice is what we should aspire to. Certainly we should not listen to the government.
ReplyFree choice is important, but it does not solve everything. In any event, no matter to whom you speak, free choice always ends when it comes to something he or she does not like. So why not turn that in a positive direction?
ReplyWrong. I believe in free choice. You may freely choose that which I don't like.
You've done it in your comment. You've lied. That's your free choice: to lie. I dislike it. I think you should be free to continue to lie.
ReplyI like the idea but that might lead to riots. People going crazy in the streets looking for their caffeine fix, fires, burglarizing stores and stealing candy. Ya know, stuff. Better just keep the Greedy people happy and leave things the way they are.
ReplyGood, but they need to give schools more money when they do.... They use the vending machine sales to help pay for what they can't afford because parents get in a hubub about possibly paying more taxes to educate their children.
My daughter isn't old enough for school yet, but I'd be happy if she doesn't have such easy access to stuff I restrict at home.
ReplyYou do realize you're asking for a contradiction here. It's the junk food companies that have serious BANK. I doubt a small time health juice company will payout as much $$$ to the schools as Coke Or Pepsi.
However, I agree with banning that $hit. But just banning it in school is only half the battle. How about raising your kids to eat healthy from the time they are born and educating them a little bit.
Eventually... just as how some people get used to the taste of beer (mmm beer!) or the high-sugary carbonated beverages, your kids will get used to the taste of great food.
I can't drink pop anymore without wanting to throw up. I can taste SO MUCH sugar that it makes me feel sick. My taste buds have been trained. Now imagine 90% of the children population feeling the same way. Do you think they'll drop the coin to buy a coke? I didn't think so.
ReplyAnd it's good to take "more money" from your neighbors, by force, against their will. So that "they" can give it to schools.
You can actually short-circuit the process by breaking into your neighbors' houses when they're not home and just taking items of value. It's really a lot more efficient than hiring the government to do it for you.
ReplyGo ahead and ban the vending machines. They are already restricting snacks in schools, however what is taking place in these schools? Smart, entrepreneurial students just go to Costco and Sam's, purchase candy, and then sell the candy in that underground economy and make a little side money. Long live capitalism!
ReplyI agree with Heather on this one. It would be great if vending machines were taken out of the schools, however they do generate a lot of money for school programs, supplies, teams, upgrades etc. I just don't know if our kids can take any more cutbacks. It's a tough one.
ReplySchools do put the money generated from vending machines to good use, but essentially we are trading health for education, and I think kids have a fundemental right to have both provided for. There are other ways to generate income (granted, they require more time and effort), but I think it's worth it in the long run.
ReplyThe problem isn't the fact that vending machines sell junk food...I mean- goodness- look at how long vending machines have been around in schools! There was a vending machine in my elementary school back in the early 90s as well as when I attended high school, and the people I went to school with back then weren't nearly as "fat" as the kids that are coming up today. No, the problem is in the parents. Train your kids to eat healthy from a young age and to indulge in exercise and/or activities that get them moving. If kids are used to eating healthy and exercising, there will be less of a desire to eat crap, and on the occasion that they do opt to have a Snickers bar- it won't cause the scales to tip!
ReplyLook at most of the parents of overweight children. How can they teach their children behaviors they are unwilling or unable to model themselves? I agree it's their responsibility, but I also think sex ed should be taught by parents, and it's covered in schools.
I think vending machines should be removed from schools as part of larger changes that would include things like daily mandatory physical education and incorporation of subjects like human physiology and nutrition into the curriculum.
ReplyAbsolutely agree with you Janelle! It's all about educating our kids to make healthier choices, this starts at home, and schools should also be playing a part too.
I personally think removing vending machines won't solve the problem, although I'm not against it, but kids aren't dumb, they can get this food elsewhere.
ReplyI agree with the above that we need to not only educate the kids but the parents have to be an example too. On of my pet peeves is parents that are overweight but than feel so sad & helpless about their overweight children. Where did they learn that.. in the home.
I am not sure banning vending machines will help because again like others, I think the kids will search it out if they want it OR the overweight parents will have it in the home! I am not against getting them out, I just am not sure it will help.
ReplyYep, I totally agree with you there. I think the issue is not what's available in the vending machines, but that kids today get almost NO exercise. They sit in front of their computers and TVs and video games and don't get that exercise we did when I was growing up. Man, we were out every night playing 'kick the can,' 'dodge ball' and 'ghost in the graveyard.' We ate what we wanted but we ran our little tushies off and very few of us were ever fat. Childhood obesity is a major problem in the US and I really think that's why.
ReplyI wouldn't mind if they banned these vending machines. Even kids really should get into the habit of eating more fruits, less chips. Around these parts, they're going a little too far, trying to ban bake sales, candy bar sales, etc. I do think it's a shame that the schools are underfunded, along with sports/arts/afterschool programs, and I think that will bite this society in the ass in the long run.
ReplyApparently the drug war has taught us nothing. Banning things that are bad doesn't work. Never has, never will.
ReplyFinally a sensible comment.
ReplyIt "works" just fine. The people behind the ban feel good about themselves, don't they? By banning something, they've successfully wielded power, haven't they? Haven't they reinforced their absolute authority? Haven't they reinforced the subservience of everyone else? That's a perfect success for them.
The fact that the banned items are still available just provides an opportunity for a repeat performance. It's a bonus.
Replyof course we should look around you next time your in town the majority of the people are overweight. take them bad boys out of the schools. let the school start selling fruit cups and fresh fruit. take bad sugar out and put natrual sugar in . changing the habits of the kids is a perfect way to put our country in shape. candy is the worst thing for us we dont need it at all
ReplyHow about banning senators from being junk politicians.
ReplyI live in Sydney, Australia where food vending machines are banned in schools. And yes, we have plenty of overweight children too!
If the kids want junk and their parents give them money to buy it, then they will eat it. It's great not having vending machines. It means kids are not tempted by junk and they eat the fruit and sandwiches I give them. Good eating habits my kids have now will stay with them as they get older. I hope!
ReplyI remember being really excited about the fact that going to high school meant having access to vending machines so we could buy snacks. But I never really bought them very often because my parents didn't want us wasting our money on them. In a sense, I think it's best that parents teach their kids that vending machine food is not a good option, but in reality, I know that most parents probably aren't going to do that. As far as banning the vending machines, I think that's a fine idea. Schools don't really NEED them as far as I'm concerned, but they do generate a lot of revenue. Why not find other ways to raise money for schools? Do a walkathon or something that promotes physical activity or something like that.
ReplyBanning or not banning vending machines will not make much of a different. The government is taking tiny little steps and will make big claims for what they are doing about childhood obesity.
It would be nice if they would really do something that would make a difference - more nutritional eduction and bring back PE.
Replyi think junk food is choice everyone can make to have>
Replyjunk food is a concern for health problems but obesity does not start in high school, it starts when you are young.
Reply