Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

How disappointing that school leaders from the Webster, Le Roy and Gates Chili districts chose to criticize Comptroller DiNapoli’s audit of competitive foods, rather than absorb the facts. The audit revealed each of these districts failed to follow its own nutrition policy.Equally disturbing are the weak policies adopted by these districts. All use the “Choose Sensibly” guidelines. On the Choose Sensibly Web site, hundreds of non-nutritious items are listed that meet the program’s nutritional profile including Cocoa Puffs, Cheese Doodles and Butterfingers. With more than 25 percent of children in New York classified as obese, are these the foods our schools should be marketing to kids?

Sadly, many school districts continue to sell junk food because they are dependent on the money earned through these sales. But should we really be financing schools at the expense of our children’s health?

Obesity costs New York state $6.1 billion yearly in medical expenditures. State legislators should take note and pass strong school nutrition standards, like the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations, to protect our children and our state’s fiscal health.

Nancy Huehnergarth
Millwood, Westchester County
Director, New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance