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Junk food ban moves forward

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By Matt Adrian | Wednesday, October 11, 2006 12:47 AM CDT | () comments

SPRINGFIELD — New rules banning junk food sales in Illinois schools won approval Tuesday, but some lawmakers claim the measure was fast-tracked for political purposes.

A bipartisan legislative committee gave the nod for the Illinois State Board of Education to implement rules restricting the sale of junk food during school hours at elementary and middle schools. However, candy bars and soda still can be sold on school grounds after class ends for the day.

Education officials applauded the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, or JCAR, decision making the argument that children’s diets can affect their classroom performance.

“We are pleased to see the new junk food rules moving forward because we know that a healthy diet contributes to the learning readiness and well-being of the children of Illinois,” State Board Chairman Jesse Ruiz said.

It still is unclear when the regulations will take effect.

Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, a JCAR member, questioned why the state would move forward with new regulations when the School Wellness Policy Task Force, a panel of education and health experts, is expected to be making recommendations in January 2007.

“There is no reason this could not wait until next year,” he said. “It was done for purely political reasons by this administration.”

Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be facing off against State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, and Green Party candidate Rich Whitney in the Nov. 7 election.

Burzynski, who voted against the new rules, was also concerned that school districts may have to pay to kill contracts with vending machine operators.

Under the new rules, schools can apply for waivers because of outstanding vending contracts, but there is no guarantee an exemption will be given.

Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, argued that the rules take power away from local school boards and administrators.

“They don’t need the big state government telling them what they can put in their vending machines,” he said. “There are much more important matters that state government should be dealing with in regards to education.”

The rules also define what food can be served on school grounds. For instance, no food item with 35 percent of its calories coming from fat can be served. That prohibition also extends to food that gets more than 10 percent of its calories from saturated fat.

Matt Adrian can be contacted at (217) 789-0865 or matt.adrian@lee.net.