Originally published August 15 2005
Junk foods are staples in high schools, survey says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Even though the links between junk food and obesity have been proven, high schools still continue to offer mainly junk food to students.
Almost all of the schools surveyed have vending machines with everything from soft drinks to bottled water to potato chips and pretzels.
And candy bars are often sold as fundraisers during school hours.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University set out to learn exactly what foods are sold at schools.
The nutritional value of these foods has been a hot topic as concerns escalate about childhood obesity.
Government statistics show 31% of kids are overweight or at risk of becoming so.
The researchers sent surveys to school food-service directors at 271 urban and rural high schools in the Pennsylvania area; 228 surveys were returned.
Hamburgers, pizza and sandwiches are the top-selling foods in a la carte lines.
Next comes high-fat baked goods (cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries), french fries and salty snacks, the survey found.
"The less nutritious choices are ubiquitous, but there are some nutritious choices available," says registered dietitian Claudia Probart, lead author of the study.
"We're happy the top foods in the a la carte line (hamburgers, pizza, sandwiches) are ones that meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines."
� 94% of the high schools have vending machines that are accessible to students.
� 72% of the schools offer water as one of the choices in the vending machines; 67% offer fruit juice; 60% sell soft drinks.
� The most commonly reported foods in vending machines include chips (potato or corn), popcorn, cookies and candy bars.
� Of the top 10 foods offered in vending machines, only three are considered nutritious: water, juice and pretzels.
� The most common foods offered in the 67 school stores that sell food: candy, cookies, chips, pretzels, popcorn and soda.
� Chocolate candy is the item most sold during fundraisers and club sales.
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