Assembly Committee Should Include High Schools in Proposed Soda Ban, Editorial States

The Assembly Education Committee, which on July 9 plans to debate a bill (SB 677) that would limit sales of soda and other carbonated beverages in elementary and middle schools, should reinstate a provision in the legislation that would limit sales in high schools, a San Francisco Chronicle editorial states (San Francisco Chronicle, 7/3). The Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday passed the bill without the provision for high schools. Under the bill, sponsored by Sen. Debra Ortiz (D-Sacramento), elementary and middle schools on Sept. 1, 2005, would have to begin to sell milk, water, fruit juice and fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50% fruit juice and have no added sweeteners rather than soda. The legislation would allow soda sales more than 30 minutes before or after school, at school athletic events or as part of student fundraisers. Assembly Health Committee Chair Dario Frommer (D-Los Angeles) said that he would only support the bill without the provision for high schools (California Healthline, 7/2). According to the editorial, the "majority of sales of sodas are on high school campuses," and schools "must be places that help children acquire healthy habits, not reinforce bad ones that could contribute to the scourge of childhood obesity" (San Francisco Chronicle, 7/3).