Upon reviewing the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new “Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards, NAMA issued the following statement:
We commend the USDA on its effort to improve childhood nutrition and to empower families to make healthier food choices by providing science-based information. As an association, we have had a long-standing commitment to providing nutrition information to consumers throughout the U.S. and beyond since the launch of our Balanced for Life program in 2005.
We, however, stand by our comments provided as a matter of public record earlier this year on the then-proposed USDA standards: Healthier food and beverage items should remain a choice and should include of a wider range of offerings sold in schools.
NAMA would have preferred that the USDA rules provide more choices by implementing rules similar to the association’s nationally-recognized Fit Pick program, which identifies ‘better for you’ options.
However, NAMA was encouraged by the inclusion of the following rules in “Smart Snacks in School,” both of which were submitted within NAMA’s comments to the USDA:
- Amending the proposed rules and agreeing with NAMA’s comments on fruit or vegetable juices, allowing these beverages to be diluted with water or carbonated water.
- Providing until July 1, 2014 until rules are fully implemented.
