Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Provides that as of September 2013 only low-fat or fat-free milk may be sold, served, or given away on school property.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning beverages sold, served, or given away at school and amending P.L.2007, c.45.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2007, c.45 (C.18A:33-15) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. As of September 2007, the following items shall not be served, sold or given away as a free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day, including items served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program:
(1) Foods of minimal nutritional value, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture;
(2) All food and beverage items listing sugar, in any form, as the first ingredient; and
(3) All forms of candy as defined by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
As of September 2013, whole milk shall also not be served, sold or given away as a free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day, including served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program. All milk served, sold, or given away shall be fat-free, either flavored or unflavored, or low-fat unflavored.
b. Schools shall reduce the purchase of any products containing trans fats beginning September 1, 2007.
c. As of September 2007, all snack and beverage items, sold or served anywhere on school property during the school day, including items sold in a la carte lines, vending machines, snack bars, school stores and fundraisers, or served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program, shall meet the following standards:
(1) Based on manufacturers' nutritional data or nutrient facts labels, no more than eight grams of total fat per serving, with the exception of nuts and seeds, and no more than two grams of saturated fat per serving;
(2) All beverages, other than milk containing two percent or less fat, or water, shall not exceed a 12-ounce portion size; and between September 2007 and September 2013, whole milk may not exceed an eight-ounce portion;
(3) In elementary schools, beverages shall be limited to milk, water or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices;
(4) In middle and high schools, at least 60 percent of all beverages offered, other than milk or water, must be 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice; and
(5) In middle and high schools, no more than 40 percent of all ice cream and frozen desserts shall be allowed to exceed the above standards for sugar, fat and saturated fat.
d. Food and beverages served during special school celebrations or during curriculum-related activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, with the exception of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.
e. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Medically authorized special needs diets as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture;
(2) School nurses using foods of minimal nutritional value during the course of providing health care to individual students; or
(3) Special needs students whose Individual Education Plan indicates a particular diet.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.45, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends current law concerning the food items that may not served, sold, or given away as a free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day. The bill provides that as of September 2013, whole milk may also not be served, sold, or given away. After this date all milk must be fat-free, either flavored or unflavored, or low-fat unflavored. The provisions of this bill mirror changes that were made under regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture to the federally-funded child nutrition programs at 7 C.F.R. 210.10.