Lessons Learned From Evaluations of California's Statewide School Nutrition Standards
Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We assessed the impact of legislation that established nutrition standards for foods and beverages that compete with reimbursable school meals in California. METHODS: We used documentation of available foods and beverages, sales accounts, and surveys of and interviews with students and food service workers to conduct 3 studies measuring pre- and postlegislation food and beverage availability, sales, and student consumption at 99 schools. RESULTS: Availability of nutrition standard-compliant foods and beverages increased. Availability of noncompliant items decreased, with the biggest reductions in sodas and other sweetened beverages, regular chips, and candy. At-school consumption of some noncompliant foods dropped; at-home consumption of selected noncompliant foods did not increase. Food and beverage sales decreased at most venues, and food service à la carte revenue losses were usually offset by increased meal program participation. Increased food service expenditures outpaced revenue increases. CONCLUSIONS: Regulation of competitive foods improved school food environments and student nutritional intake. Improvements were modest, partly because many compliant items are fat- and sugar-modified products of low nutritional value. Additional policies and actions are needed to achieve more substantive improvements in school nutrition environments and student nutrition and health.
Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: California Endowment
OpenAlex ID: W2122581492