Beverage Companies Agree to Healthier Beverage Guidelines for Sales to Students

On May 3, 2006 the Alliance for a Healthier Generation – a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association – and representatives from the American Beverage Association, Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo announced an agreement to adhere to new, less-caloric guidelines for beverages supplied to schools.

Under the agreement, the beverage industry will encourage their local bottlers and school districts to sell only lower calorie and nutritious beverages and to limit portion sizes sold to children in schools during the school day. They will work with their bottlers to ensure that any new contracts with schools follow the guidelines and that existing contracts be amended to include only the products agreed to. The beverage industry will monitor the process, providing an annual report on sales to schools that includes beverage consumption by students in school through all venues as well as beverages students consume at school through vending machines, a la carte lines and school stores. The agreement has set a goal of 75% compliance by the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year and 100% compliance by the 2009-2010 school year, provided schools and school districts are willing to amend existing contracts.

The guidelines as listed on the ABA website are as follows:

Elementary School

• Bottled water
• Up to 8 ounce servings of milk and 100% juice**
• Low fat and non fat regular and flavored milk* with up to 150 calories / 8 ounces
• 100% juice** with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories / 8 ounces

Middle School

• Same as elementary school, except juice and milk may be sold in 10 ounce servings***

High School  

• Bottled water
• No or low calorie beverages with up to 10 calories / 8 ounces
• Up to 12 ounce servings of milk, 100% juice**, light juice and sports drinks
• Low fat and non fat regular and flavored milk with up to 150 calories / 8 ounces
• 100% juice** with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories / 8 ounces
• Light juices and sports drinks with no more than 66 calories / 8 ounces
• At least 50% of beverages must be water and no or low calorie options

Time of Day

All beverages sold on school grounds during the regular and extended school day. The extended school day includes activities such as clubs, yearbook, band and choir practice, student government, drama, and childcare / latchkey programs.

This beverage policy does not apply to school-related events; such as interscholastic sporting events, school plays, and band concerts; where parents and other adults constitute a significant portion of the audience or are selling beverages as boosters.

* Milk includes nutritionally equivalent milk alternatives (per USDA), such as soy milk.
** 100% juice that contains at least 10% of the recommended daily value for three or more vitamins and minerals.
*** As a practical matter, if middle school and high school students have shared access to areas on a common campus or in common buildings, then the school community has the option to adopt the high school standard.

The beverage industry and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation address the well-publicized issue of childhood obesity by fostering healthier lifestyles, including better eating and drinking habits, physical activity, and student health. This is the first industry agreement that the Alliance is taking towards improving the health of our nation’s youth through its Healthy School Program.

What does this policy mean for schools and school districts? As is stated in the ABA website, “We encourage schools to consider our policy as they develop the beverage portion of their wellness policies.”

For questions about the Agreement, please contact:

Clinton Foundation Press Office

212-348-0360

or

Kelly Kennai

American Heart Association

202-785-7925

Source: Alliance for a Healthier Generation, 55 West 125th St., New York, NY and The American Beverage Association, 1101 16th St., NW, Washington, DC  20036