PTA Commends Institute of Medicine; Calls for Congressional Action
PTA applauds the members of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Committee on Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools for developing comprehensive nutrition standards and guidelines for foods in schools. The proposed standards highlight the critical need for updating the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) antiquated standards for food sold in schools outside of the National School Lunch Program.
The IOM report calls on school clubs and organizations that have a tradition of selling candy and other foods and drinks for fundraisers to substitute “healthy foods and drinks or other inedible products.” The national PTA organization whole-heartedly agrees with this recommendation. Since our founding in 1897, PTA has been providing resources and programs to schools and communities promoting the health, welfare, and education of our nation’s children. Each year, PTA publishes an annual leader’s guide, PTA Fundraising Essentials, which promote alternatives to traditional fundraising
More importantly, PTAs have been working alongside educators, school administrators and with wellness committees to develop and implement strategies that encourage families to lead healthy lifestyles at home and at school. In 2005, PTA developed the Healthy Lifestyles at Home and School notebook in partnership with Parents’ Action for Children. This collection of resources was created for local PTA units to promote improvements in their schools and homes to foster healthier family lifestyles. Two follow-up publications will be published this summer, a guide for parents and a guide for PTA leaders on planning healthy lifestyle events and activities.
The IOM report also calls for legislation and regulations at the federal, state and local levels that support the IOM’s recommendations. Again, the national PTA organization whole-heartedly agrees. PTA has been at the forefront of advocating for laws and regulations that provide for the safety and well-being of children including the creation of the National School Lunch Program and requirements for childhood immunizations. In recent years, PTA fought successfully for the inclusion of language mandating the creation of local school wellness policies in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Section 204).
Now Congress must pass the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, S. 771/H.R. 1363, introduced by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT). This bipartisan legislation requires the USDA to update its school nutrition standards, and apply those standards to the whole school. Current regulations utilize nutrition standards developed in 1979. However, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of children ages 6 to 11 that are overweight more than doubled between the late 1970s and 2000, and the percentage of adolescents ages 12 to 19 that are overweight tripled.
Childhood obesity has clearly become a health issue of epidemic proportions and PTAs across the country are working to reverse this life-threatening trend.
