Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, California Food Policy Advocates and Samuels & Associates just released a fantastic new report on the use of USDA surplus commodity foods in school meals. More than 80% of funds for commodities are used for meat and cheese; only 13% is spent on fruits and vegetables. Did they turn the USDA pyramid up side down? Outrageous!
Studies show it works but cost and long-term effectiveness are unclear.
Dietary data were collected from 92 children in grades 2 to 4 through 24-hour dietary recalls (39% participation rate). The majority of students did not consume the recommended five daily servings of vegetables and fruit. Researchers recommend healthy snack programs and educational programs.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Beverage Association announced important progress in the effort to limit the sale of non-diet sodas and high-calorie beverages in US schools. According to an independent evaluation, nearly 80 percent of all school beverage contracts now comply with the School Beverage Guidelines established by the Alliance, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper and the American Beverage Association (ABA). The evaluation also shows that there has been a nearly 60 percent reduction in beverage calories shipped to schools since 2004. See press release from ABA on http://www.ameribev.org/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=165
In the September issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association 10,215 fifth-grade students in 2,303 schools across 40 states were surveyed. Almost 40 percent of the schools offered soft drinks. Private schools were more likely than public schools to offer the drinks. Kids at schools banning sale of soft drinks consumed just 4 percent less overall than those children in other schools.
Now supermarkets are competing with farm stands and farmers’ markets for a wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Only 30% of men with diabetes say they know a lot about the symptoms or conditions related to type 2 diabetes, according to a survey.
researcher at the University of Florence reviewed reviewed 12 international studies which included more than 1.5 million people for follow-up periods of three to 18 years. Sticking strictly to a Mediterranean diet rich in F&V was associated with a 9 percent drop in death from heart disease, a 13 percent reduction in incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and a 6 percent reduction in cancer. The study is published today in the British Medical Journal Online First.
The investigation found a modest protective benefit for fruit and vegetable consumption in men but not in women. The benefit was stronger for colon cancer than rectal cancer, and eating grains was not linked to colorectal cancer.
Mars says it will continue to reformulate its products to remove artificial colours, additives and saturated fats where feasible, as it launches a new advertising campaign to play up its ingredient commitments. ‘Raising the Bar’!!