Elementary schools in Utah may ban some kinds of junk food from vending machines should the Senate approve House Bill 186.

H.B. 186's sponsor Rep. Pat Jones, D-Salt Lake said the bill is meant to promote nutrition among elementary school students. If schools choose to have vending machines, the food must have some nutritional value, Jones said.

"We care about our student's health," Jones said. "Why should we be peddling these caffeinated drinks to young?"

If passed, the bill will ban sale of hard candy, gum and soft drinks in elementary school vending machines. The proposal has stalled in the Senate due to strong opposition from the soft drink industry.

Since 1994, obesity in youths has been increasing according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

NHANES statistics indicate an estimated 15 percent of children ages 6-19 are overweight.

The percentage of overweight children ages 6-11 increased from an estimated 7 percent to 11 percent and adolescents ages 12-19 years increased 5 percent to 11 percent.

"I think it is important to limit access to less nutrient dense food items during the school day," said Sue Hill, BYU Department of Health Science advisor. "It gets students thinking about more healthy options."

Despite the bill's outcome, the vending machines on BYU campus will continue providing popular foods following the national trend said Bob Zahrt, assistant manager of concession vending at BYU.

"There is no limitation on what we provide per se," Zahrt said. "Some people consider chocolate to be hurtful. We have health food, fat food and snack foods. It depends on what people want."
Copyright Brigham Young University 4 Mar 2003