I had no idea this was even a law... At issue are standards in the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act for all food and beverages sold during the school day. For states acting in accordance with the law, fundraisers during school hours will be held to a healthier standard as well. Read down for full story. Bake Sale Battle: Will the new federal law end school fundraisers? (CBS News) School leaders have long counted on bake sales as an easy way to raise money. Red velvet cupcakes and milk chocolate bars have fueled many a road trip for debate teams and cheerleading squads. But now, some states are responding to a new federal law by cracking down on the sugary binges that many bake sales offer. Treats that are too sweet may not pass muster, leaving some schools already searching for ways to raise money that dont involve chocolate sprinkles. At issue are standards in the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act for all food and beverages sold during the school day. For states acting in accordance with the law, fundraisers during school hours will be held to a healthier standard as well. This doesnt mean bake sales are disappearing completely. Individual states can create exemptions to the rule, and many have done so. In Tennessee, for example, officials decided schools can have 30 days of sugary treat-filled bake sales and other food-related fundraisers during the year. Other states are more restrictive. Idaho will only allow 10 days of fundraisers with candy and other food that doesnt meet federal health standards, and Illinois will permit nine. Dozens of states are not allowing any exemptions at all, however, which means all bake sale food must meet federal requirements for nutrition. What does that mean? The U.S. Department of Agriculture put out a chart with some examples, The Wall Street Journal reports. Not allowed: Six chocolate sandwich cookies at 286 calories, a large doughnut at 242 calories and a 1.6 ounce chocolate bar with 35 calories. Examples of permitted foods include a 4 ounce fruit cup. Carrot and celery sticks would presumably make the cut as well, but good luck getting kids to pony up money for those. The USDA is emphasizing that its up to states to choose which path to take on this issue. States have full authority to make policies on fundraisers and bake sales that work for them, spokesman Cullen Schwarz said in an emailed statement. USDA is continuing to reach out to states to make sure they know they can determine what standards should be set for fundraisers at schools, and that they are free to set that policy at any time. So now, some schools are avoiding food fundraisers altogether in favor of gift-wrap sales and bowl-a-thons, The Journal reports.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:15:12 +0000
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