WASHINGTON - An expert panel has said that schools must ban junk foods like sugary drinks, cakes and chips in order to tackle childhood obesity effectively. The Institute of Medicine report was compiled following a request by the Congress.
The report said these snack items conflicted with the meals available under the federal programs at elementary, middle and high schools. The report, titled "Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way to Healthier Youth", was complied by the Institute of Medicine in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The panel also said that caffeinated products must not be sold in school cafeterias because they are known to increase moodiness and headaches. Fruits, vegetables and whole-grain items must be consumed in excess of what was currently being served up, the report added.
Led by Dr. Virginia Stallings of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the panel drafted the recommendations on food items that are already a part of the government sponsored meal programs.
"Because foods and beverages available on the school campus also make up a significant proportion of the daily calorie intake, they should contribute to a healthful diet. And school campuses should be an overall healthy eating environment," Dr Stallings revealed.
However children are not forbidden from bringing bag lunches or snacks from home to school. The guidelines issued by the panel assume significance given the fact that the rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled in the US over the last few years. The blame lies on junk foods, which are consumed in large quantities by school going children.
Reacting to these guidelines, the Grocery Manufacturers Association they were committed to promoting health and wellness and "schools are a vitally important component in the fight against pediatric obesity."
