Davis Signs Legislation Limiting ‘Junk Food’ in Elementary, Middle Schools

Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday signed SB 19, which is intended to "improve the eating habits" of elementary and middle school children by restricting the sale of soft drinks and "junk food" in schools, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/15). The bill, sponsored by Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier), will take effect Jan. 1, 2004, and will prohibit the sale of soft drinks to elementary school students while limiting soft drink sales to middle schoolers during the school day. In addition, the legislation outlines nutritional guidelines for snacks sold to students during morning and afternoon breaks and increases the state reimbursement for "free and reduced-price meals" from 13 cents to 23 cents per meal (Office of the Governor release, 10/14). According to the AP/Union-Tribune, SB 19 began as a "far more sweeping piece of legislation" that originally extended "junk food" limits to include high school students. Facing opposition from school administrators who "feared" loss of revenue from vending machines, the state Legislature "scaled back" the measure(AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/15).