DON’T WAIT – ORGANIZE AND ADVOCATE! 10 TH BIENNIAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY CONFERENCE ANAHEIM, CA JULY 17, 2019 Colin Schwartz, MPP Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Since 1971, CSPI has worked to: Make it easier to eat healthfully Prevent and mitigate diet- and obesity-related diseases Our Strategies: National, state, local policy Education (newsletter, social media) Advocacy (regulatory, legislative) Litigation
CSPI Accomplishments Nutrition Facts labels on packaged foods Added trans fat to labels Remove trans fat from food supply Menu labeling at chain restaurants, supermarkets, movie theaters Warning labels on alcoholic beverages Litigation—ads, labels, trans fat, marketing to children Reduce junk food marketing to kids Funding for food safety and CDC's nutrition, physical activity, and obesity program Food Safety Modernization Act Passage of Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Soda and junk food out of school vending, a la carte, school stores, etc. & improve school meals
What are the school meals programs? National School Lunch Program: nearly half of all children in the U.S. (more than 30 million). School Breakfast Program: more than 14 million children. Taxpayer investment in both programs over $16 billion in FY2019. Meals, snacks, beverages must meet nutrition standards Every 5 years Congress takes up Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR)
Importance of strong school nutrition standards for low-income children Helps close the gap in healthier food access between higher and lower- income schools Helps reduce stigma Decreases obesity among low-income students
The majority of participants are low- income School lunch: 73% School breakfast: 85% Participation is increasing among low-income children School lunch: 15.5m in 2000 to 22m in 2017 School breakfast: 7.5m in 2000 to 12.4m in 2017
School lunch participation trends 35.0 Total 30.0 Free Paid 25.0 RP 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Great Recession Updated Nutrition Source: USDA Child Nutrition Tables (Dec., 2007) Standards (Sept., 2012)
How are things going? Virtually all school districts serving healthier lunches with more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, less salt and trans fat.
IMPORTANCE OF HHFKA
IMPORTANCE OF HHFKA
Impact of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Updated school meal and snack standards: prevent more than 2 million cases of childhood obesity and save $792 million over ten years. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is “one of the most important national obesity prevention policy achievements in recent decades.” - Harvard School of Public Health, 2015
Impact of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Recent USDA study found: 23.6 percent increase of nutritional quality for lunches; 21.7 percent increase for breakfast. The vast majority of schools (85 percent) met or were close to meeting the first sodium-reduction target in SY 2014-2015. The majority of school meals met daily requirements for fruits (95 percent) and vegetables (81 percent). Same amount of plate waste from before and after the updated standards. School meal participation was highest in schools that had the healthiest meals.
SO HOW DID ADVOCATES DO IT?
CSPI case study on HHFKA Provide an in-depth look into how HHFKA came to pass to inform other nutrition and public health policy advocacy initiatives Case study covers 2003 to 2015 Focus on nutrition standards https://cspinet.org/schoolfoodcasestudy
1990s: First identify the problem and the solution Research Childhood obesity increasing Unhealthy school foods Policy cost-effective, sustainable Early advocacy success: 1994 CNR meals based on Dietary Guidelines for Americans
2000s: Tactics used leading up to HHFKA Build consensus and coordinate action Build momentum at national, state, and local level CSPI cultivated interest and technical assistance to pass policies Use the research for advocacy Bring industry to the table Diffuse opposition
2000s: Leading up to HHFKA Competitive foods (snacks and beverages) Congressional legislation (2005-2010) Institute of Medicine report (2007) USDA and CDC case studies, CSPI state report cards Bipartisan and industry support by 2006 Amendment to 2007 farm bill School meals Bush Administration contracted Institute of Medicine report on school meals (released in 2009)
Moment of opportunity Perfect storm Nontraditional and new partners Use of research Funders Communications
Getting HHFKA to the finish line Challenges Anti-hunger groups preferred House CNR bill Senate CNR bill SNAP offset How challenges have been resolved Bridge organizations
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passes!
After the law passes: regulations and defense
Implementation and defense of HHFKA Implementation Comment on regulations 240,000 of the 135,000 of the 247,800 comments on 138,000 comments on competitive foods meal standards
Defense of HHFKA Opposition First came pizza as a vegetable
Defense of HHFKA Additional opposition Limits on french fries Whole-grain rich requirement Sodium reduction targets Countering the opposition Work with USDA and White House
Key takeaways
Key takeaways: Policy National policy change often takes time 20 years leading up to HHFKA State and local momentum Passing legislation first step of the process: implementation and defense essential Timing (and luck) plays a role: “All the stars aligning”
Key takeaways: Advocacy Parents, concerned citizens, health professionals, and local leaders have power, but do not always realize it Grassroots involvement essential Mix of research and real-life success stories Make up for limited resources through coalitions Differences of opinion between allies as much of a barrier as opposition from legislators or industry
Key takeaways: Industry Food industry not monolithic Public health organizations can have different motives than industry, yet still work together Advantage of national nutrition policy easier and less expensive for industry than different policies in states and localities Industry can respond to changing demand
Company innovation: lowering sodium Aramark Mars ConAgra Foods Nestlé Domino’s Pizza (Smart PepsiCo Slice) Revolution Foods General Mills Schwan’s Company Kellogg’s Unilever Kraft Foods And many more!
School innovation: lowering sodium
Recent USDA study USDA released the Successful Approaches to Reduce Sodium in School Meals Study in June, 2019 A large variety of products that meet current sodium standards are available for use in school meals Range of effective school strategies Additional communication and guidance to support implementation of the sodium standards were the most frequently requested technical assistance resources: Dissemination of research on the health impacts of sodium and sodium substitutes Enhanced planning and communication with all stakeholders for implementing future targets Communication materials for diverse audiences, including schools, cooks, and FSMCs Targeted resources for food preparation, infrastructure, and trainings
WHOLE GRAIN INNOVATION
Where we are now? USDA’s final rule: Delayed the second sodium reduction targets from SY17-18 to SY24-25 (initially delayed to SY20-21) and eliminated target 3 Weakened the whole grain-rich requirement from 100% to 50% (initially proposed only extending waivers) Allows 1% flavored milk (without calorie or sugar limits) The final rule violates the law and is based on: National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly, Institute of Medicine) 2009 report: School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children 2010-2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (adopted the NAM recommendations) The 2015-2020 DGAs reinforced the same recommendations
SODIUM TOLERABLE UPPER LIMIT: 1,900MG/2,200MG/ 2,300MG
SODIUM DRI REPORT
WHOLE GRAINS: WHOLE GRAINS AT LEAST ½ TOTAL GRAIN CONSUMPTION
HOW ARE WE USING THESE BEST PRACTICES TO COUNTER THE ROLLBACKS?
How are we using these best practices to counter the rollbacks? Litigation Child Nutrition Reauthorization Raising awareness: ads, Congressional briefing Lobbying Sharing research Grassroots mobilization
What can you do? Take action: www.CSPInet.org/actionalerts Pass state/local policy Pass school district policy Governor issue executive order State agency guidance, memo, or formal communication If you work with schools and/or companies: Provide technical assistance, best practices for meeting sodium and whole grain-rich standards
Thank you! Colin Schwartz, MPP Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs Center for Science in the Public Interest cschwartz@cspinet.org
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