Highlights of USDA’s ‘Smart Snacks’ proposal
February 01, 2013 | 11:13 AM
- Promoting availability of snack foods with whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables or protein foods as their main ingredients.
- Ensuring that snack food items are lower in fat, sugar, and sodium and provide more of the nutrients that nutritionists say kids need.
- Allowing variation by age group for factors such as beverage portion size and caffeine content.
- Preserving the ability of parents to give their children bagged lunches of their choosing or treats for activities such as birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations.
- Allowing schools to continue traditions like occasional fundraisers and bake sales.
- Ensuring that standards only affect foods sold on school grounds during the school day. Foods sold at afterschool sporting events or other activities will not be subject to the requirements.
- Allowing significant local and regional autonomy by only establishing minimum requirements for schools. States and schools that have stronger standards than what is being proposed will be able to maintain their own policies.
- Making sure that schools and vendors have adequate time to adapt by waiting to put the rule into effect until at least one full school year after public comment is considered and an implementing rule is published.
