WASHINGTON, June 25, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nancy Stiles will discuss competitive foods in schools and the effects that recent legislation may have on competitive foods policy during the American School Food Service Association's (ASFSA) June online chat, scheduled for Thursday, June 28, from 4 to 5 p.m., EDT. Stiles, chair of ASFSA's Public Policy and Legislation Committee and School Nutrition Director for the Hampton (NH) School District, will respond to questions and concerns from chat participants.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) introduced legislation (H.R. 2129) on June 12 to give USDA greater authority over the sale of competitive foods in schools. Previously, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) had introduced a bill (S. 745) on April 6 to address the same issues. While the two bills address the same concerns, they take different approaches to the issue.
Titled the Better Nutrition for School Children Act of 2001, H.R. 2129 would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 by giving the USDA Secretary the authority to regulate all foods and beverages sold "throughout the entire school, including the school grounds, until the end of the school day" in all schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program. S. 745 would prohibit the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value during school meal periods and require the USDA Secretary to issue new regulations on competitive foods in schools.
All ASFSA members and the general public are invited to participate in the chat. To participate, log on to the World Wide Web and go to ASFSA's home page at http://www.asfsa.org, Your Child Nutrition eSource, on the day of the chat. There will be instructions on the ASFSA home page for connecting to the chat. A transcript of the chat will be available through the Website within three days, as well.
Please note that chat participants now can receive one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) towards ASFSA Certification by attending the chat and completing a short quiz afterwards. More information can be found on this new professional development opportunity at ASFSA's Website at http://www.asfsa.org.
ASFSA also has scheduled a chat for September 27, 2001, at 4 p.m., EDT, on food safety and sanitation. ASFSA will host chats every fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m., EST. In May, ASFSA.ORG hosted a chat on "How to Handle a Difficult Employee." The transcript for this chat is now available at http://www.asfsa.org.
ASFSA is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. Founded in 1946, ASFSA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children's health and well-being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
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CONTACT: American School Food Service Association
(703) 739-3900
Joseph Haas, ext. 122
Laura Hanley, ext. 116