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Liquid
Candy or Healthy Kids?
by Bill Carlson
Article from
http://www.educationnews.org/liquid_candy_or_healthy_kids.htm
For more articles on disabilities and special ed visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
Children and teens have little defense against the lure of soft
drink advertising. Despite published health risks of soda
consumption, soft drink moguls like the Pepsi-Cola Group
continue to grow and prosper. During recent years, soda
companies have gained access to children attending public
schools by entering into exclusive contract agreements with
local school districts. Once on campuses, these companies target
children to promote their nutritionally bankrupt and lavishly
sugared liquid candy products. According to The Washington Post
(2.27.01), "Research suggests kids who drink a lot of soft
drinks risk becoming fat, weak-boned, cavity-prone and
caffeine-addicted." Shouldn’t responsible adults who know better
and set policy for public schools protect students from such
health risks?
On
August 27, 2002, The Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board
of Education unanimously voted to ban the sale of soft drinks
during school hours on all school campuses. Student health
concerns, especially those related to obesity, prompted the
decision. During the discussion, District Superintendent Roy
Romer said that he suffers from type 2 diabetes. He asked the
board to continue its focus on student health issues. Last year,
Oakland Unified School District approved a similar policy. (The
Los Angeles Times 8.28.02) In the absence of common sense,
legislation is needed that requires all school districts to
protect students from on-campus junk-food promotions.
Locally, several community members offered serious health
concerns to the school board about the school district’s
proposed contract with the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group. One of the
presenters, Melodee Lopez, a Registered Dietitian, a Public
Health Nutritionist for the County of San Bernardino, and mother
of two children attending district schools, provided the board
with a myriad of well-documented health advisories and other
information in opposition to the Pepsi contract. Inevitably, on
May 21, 2002, the school board voted 4 – 1 for approval.
Apparently, the board was not convinced by the testimony,
research, and documented professional health information.
Effective July 1, 2002, Yucaipa-Calimesa school’s administration
signed an agreement giving exclusive vending and beverage
"pouring rights" to the Pepsi Cola Bottling Group. In exchange,
Pepsi agreed to pay the district $210,000 over a five-year
period plus a commission for product sales. Pepsi now enjoys the
prospect of "educating" students into a lifetime of loyalty to
Pepsi products.
Currently, Pepsi product vending machines dispensing 20-ounce
bottled soft drinks are strategically placed on the junior and
senior high school campuses. Soft drinks are not available to
students at elementary sites. Other than Pepsi’s bottled water,
all drinks contain ingredients believed to cause health
problems. Traditional Pepsi (20 ounces) includes the rogue
elements of phosphate, caffeine, and well over 16 teaspoons of
sugar. Pepsi’s non-carbonated "Fruit Works" drinks contain
slightly less sugar but are still of minimal nutritional value.
Imagine 16 teaspoons of sugar in your coffee or on your
breakfast cereal!
Under
the new Pepsi-District "Partnership," Pepsi calls for on campus
"administrative vision." Jointly, the "team" intends to launch
Pepsi’s "exciting marketing programs" aimed at "creating student
interest and fun." Students may win free tickets to amusement
parks or get to sample products brought on campuses aboard the
Mountain Dew Hummer, the Code Red Van, or the Mountain Dew
Retila Ford F-150 Truck. By design, these promotions and Pepsi’s
Vend-A-Win gimmick will enhance students’ product awareness and
Pepsi’s profits. Pepsi may achieve its goals. But what will
students achieve? Should schools’ priority be on promoting
commercial funding resources or on promoting children’s health?
So,
how goes your vote: to liquid candy? Or to healthier kids?
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