NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: Monday, October 12, 2009

Contact: Amanda Williams, Office of Healthy Schools, 601-359-1813
Pete Smith, Communications Director, 601-359-1336

New CDC Study Finds More Mississippi Schools Not Selling Less Nutritious Foods and Beverages

Jackson, MS- The percentage of secondary schools in Mississippi in which students could not purchase less nutritious food and beverages, such as candy and soda, increased significantly between 2006 and 2008, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mississippi ranked among the 10 best states in the percentage of secondary schools that did not sell less nutritious food and beverages from vending machines or at a school store, canteen, or snack bar in 2008.

"We are gratified that the school health policies and programs in our state have led to impressive improvements in the foods and beverages available to students," said Shane McNeill, Director Office of Healthy Schools, Mississippi Department of Education. "However, we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that all students learn in a healthy school environment."

The CDC study found that in 2008, in 62% of secondary schools in Mississippi, students could not purchase chocolate candy, other candy, baked goods and salty snacks that are not low in fat, and soda or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice. The percentage of secondary schools in Mississippi in which students could not purchase soda or fruit drinks increased from 22% in 2006 to 75% in 2008. The percentage of secondary schools in Mississippi in which students could not purchase candy or salty snacks not low in fat increased from 23% in 2006 to 72% in 2008.

CDC researchers found that the greatest improvements were seen in states such as Mississippi that have adopted strong school nutrition standards and policies for foods and beverages sold in competition with school meal programs. These standards were developed with the passage of the 2007 Mississippi Healthy Students Act.

The CDC study, "Availability of Less Nutritious Snack Foods and Beverages in Secondary Schools -Selected States, 2002-2008," is published in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"The school environment is a key setting for influencing children's food choices and eating habits, according to Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH, director of CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). "Further, by ensuring that only healthy food options are available, schools can model healthy eating behaviors, improve students' diets, and help youth establish lifelong healthy eating habits."

The Office of Healthy Schools has information available on its website to provide recommendations for ensuring that only healthy snack options are available in schools. There is a recommended substitute list for snack foods sold as fundraisers in schools, approved snack options in vending machines or snack bars, denied snack options in vending machines or snack bars, and also sample newsletters, policies, and marketing strategies for cafeterias to partners with their local school health councils to provide students with nutritious snack options. There are also sample newsletters that schools can send home with parents to promote the consumption of healthy options at home. This information is also distributed through the school health council coordinator listserv as well as publicized through state conferences with school administrators.

The School Health Profiles (Profiles) is a system of surveys assessing school health policies and practices in states, large urban school districts, and territories. Profiles surveys are conducted every two years by education and health agencies among middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers. Profiles monitors the current status of school health education requirements and content; physical education requirements; school health policies related to HIV infection/AIDS, tobacco-use prevention, and nutrition; asthma management activities; and family and community involvement in school health programs.

Profiles are conducted among a representative sample of secondary schools in a state, large urban school district, or territory. Profiles data are collected from self-administered questionnaires from the principal and the lead health education teacher at each sampled school. The 2008 report includes data from 47 states, 20 cities, and 4 territories.

For more information on state program efforts, School Health Profiles results for Mississippi, and the Availability of Less Nutritious Snack Foods and Beverages in Secondary Schools Selected States, 2002-2008 report visit these Web sites:

www.healthyschoolsms.org
www.cdc.gov/schoolhealthprofiles
http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/ohs_main/2008schhealthprf.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5839a4.htm?s_cid=mm5839a4_e