U.S. Government Looking to Regulate All Food Sold in Schools

yes! What a relief that the government has paid its bills, maintained Federal highways and bridges, competently settled foreign diplomacy and handled the domestic economic issues and now they can move on to that all-important issue of how much candy school kids eat.

Seriously. What is wrong with this country.

"Soon the USDA will begin drafting legislation that will give it the power to oversee all food in schools. This way stuff sold in vending machines will not "undermine" nutrition programs. Sounds like a good idea."

Actually, to me, it sounds like a horrible idea, just one more example of government interfering where it doesn't belong. The USDA shouldn't be allowed to outlaw food, even junk food, even if it helps to make someone obese. School boards and parents are the people who should be making those decisions.

It's a slippery slope we're on; first it's just the schools the USDA wants to control... next it'll be hospitals, offices, bus stations.

When i was going to school, i couldnt afford the stuff from vending machines.. that pretty much took care of that issue for me.

Yay--something else for the government to control. Whatever happened to parenting and personal responsibility?

I think the government should stay out of this one. they already control enough as it is.
I like the comments about children learning about money and having the independance that comes with a choice to purchase food from a vending machine. I grew up in Pittsburgh where there was a KFC less than 50 feet from the school. We did not have vending machines but we all still found a way to get unhealthy food. We would sneak out over lunch or directly after school to KFC or the drug store to buy what we wanted.
I agree that the knowledge needs to come from the parents. We all need to take some responsibility when it comes to our children on matters of nutrition. They are BOMBARDED with food from every angle and should get used to turning down unhealthful snacks and making wise decisions. Also, what happens when a kid just finished soccer game and wants a reward of a snicker bar? why should a fit kid who occasionally treats themself have to be denied something because others dont have the knowledge to make wise decisions. I just dont know about this one...

I never had money for the vending machines, either. If I knew I had to stay late at school, my parents told me to take food from home in my backpack and eat that. Ultimately, it has to be up to the parents, not the government, to regulate kids' eating habits. It would be kind of nice if vending machines had healthy options as well as candy, but some people really want to eat Snickers bars. I don't think it's appropriate for the government to step in and say "No more Snickers bars in vending machines". The whole situation reminds me of when we were in grade school and some kid acted up in class and the rest of the class lost recess or something...one person ruined it for everybody else.

The federal government needs to let the indivudal school systems regulate their own food offerings. Parents of individual counties need to lobby their school board members.

This is no more the federal government's job than it is for them to dictate what we eat in our own homes. Just my own thought!

Vending machines are banned from primary schools in Sydney, Australia. My kids have never used one as there aren't that many around. They do know that I won't use them as the prices are much higher than in the shops.

However, this has not stopped the problem of childhood obesity in Australia. If vending machines are banned in American schools, don't expect it to make a difference on the weight of children attending schools. Education on healthy eating and weight begins in the home.

It seems that a lot of people are saying that it's the parents' job to teach healthy eating habits. That's definitely true. But it's also clearly not working for everyone. There are a lot of things that maybe should be taught at home, but the government still steps in to regulate anyway. This isn't stopping parents from teaching their children about health. And it doesn't stop a parent who really wants their kid to have a Snickers from having a Snickers. It would just take away the source from the vending machine. People wouldn't be too happy if vending machines at school sold cigarettes or alcohol, but we said that it was up to the parents to teach their children not to buy it.

I appreciate that people are moving to provide healthier choices in schools since I have two school age children. As a registered dietitian and consultant to food and beverage companies, I know the importance of nutrition education and know of several initiatives already in progress such as The School Beverage Guidelines a national campaign that aims at providing more nutritious drinks in schools. So far, there has been a 58% cut in total calories and a 65% reduction in shipments of full-cal soft drinks!
I like to remind all my patients that all foods and beverages can be enjoyed in moderation which includes a sweetened beverage once in a while! After all we are humans :)

Frankly, I think it's hypocritical. Much of the reason Americans have the weight problems they do is because of the way the FDA has let corporate lobbyists make food that is no longer food and filled with chemicals and hormones. This food will be sold at schools because it is cheap, and I, as an experienced teacher who has seen kids return from lunch again and again, believe that it will only make kids sicker. Think about it. Why have disorders like autism, Aspberger's, PCOS (in teens too!!!), ADHD, and depression skyrocketed? Why do so many kids have behavior disorders? Why are girls under 9 years-old getting their periods? It's not because of the vending machines, and the government's decision is nothing but a smokescreen that make them look like they're trying to do something to people unaware of what cooperations are doing to U.S. food. Even some of the products that used to be so dedicated to avoiding hormones, etc. have given in (e.g. read your Ben and Jerry's ice cream carton very carefully).

I can't recall there being a single vending machine at my high school in the 80's. I don't get this whole idea of even placing them on school campuses. I don't care if it contains healthy food or crap food, they don't belong on school campuses. Why? Because the students are a captive audience, and the people who own the vending machines are taking advantage of the situation. Obviously kids need to eat during the day, so there are two options: buy it at the cafeteria or bring it from home. For the kid who wants a snickers after a soccer game, bring it from home. What's the big deal? Vending machines are not a necessity to student life, I wouldn't even call them life-enhancing. It's simply another money-making scheme. To me it's like putting slot machines on school campuses and then saying 'oh, the pictures should be of trees not half naked ladies'. They shouldn't be there to begin with.