Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released their guidance documents on water availability during School Lunch Meal Service and nutrition guidelines for milk served at schools. Part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed by Congress included requirements relating to milk and water and this is the FDA's recommendation to schools on implimentating that.
Below is a summary of both of those recommendations.
Water availability in school:
• Free water must be made readily available to children during lunch.
• Schools are given flexibility in how to implement this change. The memo reads: “For example, schools can offer water pitchers and cups on lunch tables, a water fountain, or a faucet that allows students to fill their own bottles or cups with drinking water.”
• Water is not considered part of the reimbursable meal. However, reasonable costs from providing water will be considered an allowable cost to the nonprofit food service account.
Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk
• Schools should offer children at least two choices of fluid milk that are either fat-free or low-fat (1 percent).
• Schools may continue to offer plain or flavored milk as long as they are fat-free or low-fat until the new proposed school meals rule goes into effect.
Even though local school districts have until the start of next school year (SY 2011-2012) to comply with the requirements, they are encouraging school officials and food service directors to start making these changes now. Implementing these changes quickly is key to making the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act a success.
How can you as an advocate support your school in this process?
• Workwith school wellness councils to raise awareness of these new requirements and the timetable for making changes
• Collaborate with community stakeholders and the media to build awareness and excitement about these nutritional improvements
• Supporteducation and dialogue for school staff, students, and parents promoting the acceptance and understanding of the health benefits of lower-fat milk and the availability of water
• Connectschools with best practice information on education materials, curriculum, and advice on lessons learned from the implementation of similar requirements
For updates on legislation in Oklahoma dealing with child nutrition please visit http://www.yourethecure.org/ and become an adovcate today!
Showing posts with label FDA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FDA. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Federal judge upholds key provisions of FDA tobacco law
A federal judge in Kentucky this week upheld several provisions of a new law giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate tobacco products. The court also upheld the authority of federal, state and local governments to impose additional regulations on tobacco products and marketing beyond those specified in the law. Find out more.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Historic Day For Public Health
In an historic moment for public health and tobacco control, President Obama at 2 pm today will sign into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the bill to give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products. The signing ceremony will be held in the White House Rose Garden and is scheduled to be carried live on C-Span 3 and CNN.
You can also watch on the web at: http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx.
The American Heart Association would like to thank all of their You're the Cure networkers for the phone calls, emails and letters of support. We would not be celebrating this victory if it weren't for you.
You can also watch on the web at: http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx.
The American Heart Association would like to thank all of their You're the Cure networkers for the phone calls, emails and letters of support. We would not be celebrating this victory if it weren't for you.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Congress Makes History This Week! Citizens Win!!
The US House and US Senate made history this week by passing the Family Smoking Prevention and Control Act. This bill would give the FDA the power to regulate tobacco companies and requires those companies to provide a list of ingredients for their products. It also puts more stringent restrictions on how tobacco companies can market their products.
You can see how your senator voted here and how your representative voted here.
Read AHA CEO Nancy Brown's statement on today's historic passage.
Congress Sends FDA Tobacco Bill to Obama
June 12, 2009
The Wall Street Journal
By FAWN JOHNSON
WASHINGTON -- A bill allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco is on the way to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.
A day after the Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure, the House passed it Friday on a 307-97 vote.
Mr. Obama said the legislation gives the government much greater power to regulate tobacco "truly defines change in Washington." The president spoke in the Rose Garden Friday and promised to sign the bill.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday that her agency looked forward to implementing it.
The FDA now will take on an unprecedented role overseeing the production and marketing of cigarettes. Health advocates are happy about the prospect, saying at long last regulators can determine exactly the types of toxins involved in making and smoking cigarettes.
Some FDA watchers and people in the tobacco industry say the new responsibilities will be too heavy a lift for the agency and will harm small tobacco farms.
"Allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco in any capacity would inevitably lead to the FDA regulating the family farm," said Rep. Howard Coble (R., N.C.), during the House debate. "This could create uncertainty for family farmers as they are already struggling."
Many North Carolina elected officials have protested the legislation, arguing that it would hurt jobs in their state. Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc., the second- and third-largest tobacco companies in the U.S., are based in North Carolina.
But the No. 1 U.S. tobacco producer, Altria Group, Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris USA, has given its stamp of approval to the measure.
Critics, including Lorillard, say Altria supports FDA regulation because new rules could solidify the company's dominance in the market. Altria spokesman William Phelps said previous regulations on cigarettes haven't stifled the tobacco market.
Health advocates aren't concerned about the solvency of tobacco companies. "As long as players in the industry are fighting over market share, all that we care about is that they're fighting over a shrinking market," said Gregg Haifley, senior associate for federal relations at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
After the bill becomes law, tobacco-product manufacturers must register with the FDA and provide a detailed product list. They also must pay user fees to cover the cost of the new regulation.
The FDA can evaluate health claims made by cigarette makers and require companies to change their tobacco products. Packets of cigarettes will have larger and more strongly worded warning labels. There will be strict controls on advertising, stopping use of the terms "mild" and "low tar."
You can see how your senator voted here and how your representative voted here.
Read AHA CEO Nancy Brown's statement on today's historic passage.
Congress Sends FDA Tobacco Bill to Obama
June 12, 2009
The Wall Street Journal
By FAWN JOHNSON
WASHINGTON -- A bill allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco is on the way to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.
A day after the Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure, the House passed it Friday on a 307-97 vote.
Mr. Obama said the legislation gives the government much greater power to regulate tobacco "truly defines change in Washington." The president spoke in the Rose Garden Friday and promised to sign the bill.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday that her agency looked forward to implementing it.
The FDA now will take on an unprecedented role overseeing the production and marketing of cigarettes. Health advocates are happy about the prospect, saying at long last regulators can determine exactly the types of toxins involved in making and smoking cigarettes.
Some FDA watchers and people in the tobacco industry say the new responsibilities will be too heavy a lift for the agency and will harm small tobacco farms.
"Allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco in any capacity would inevitably lead to the FDA regulating the family farm," said Rep. Howard Coble (R., N.C.), during the House debate. "This could create uncertainty for family farmers as they are already struggling."
Many North Carolina elected officials have protested the legislation, arguing that it would hurt jobs in their state. Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc., the second- and third-largest tobacco companies in the U.S., are based in North Carolina.
But the No. 1 U.S. tobacco producer, Altria Group, Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris USA, has given its stamp of approval to the measure.
Critics, including Lorillard, say Altria supports FDA regulation because new rules could solidify the company's dominance in the market. Altria spokesman William Phelps said previous regulations on cigarettes haven't stifled the tobacco market.
Health advocates aren't concerned about the solvency of tobacco companies. "As long as players in the industry are fighting over market share, all that we care about is that they're fighting over a shrinking market," said Gregg Haifley, senior associate for federal relations at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
After the bill becomes law, tobacco-product manufacturers must register with the FDA and provide a detailed product list. They also must pay user fees to cover the cost of the new regulation.
The FDA can evaluate health claims made by cigarette makers and require companies to change their tobacco products. Packets of cigarettes will have larger and more strongly worded warning labels. There will be strict controls on advertising, stopping use of the terms "mild" and "low tar."
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