SCHOOL FOOD ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Eliminate Marketing
Eliminate marketing of unhealthy foods on school grounds
Despite the increase in childhood obesity and its associated complications, many schools are filled with marketing messages targeting children with high sugar, high fat and other unhealthy foods. In 2000, for example, more than 20 percent of schools nationwide offered and hence marketed brand-name fast food, which both encourages unhealthy eating and discourages participation in federally funded meal programs. Foods sold outside the lunch program, such as those sold in vending machines, do not have to meet federal nutrition standards and are often high in fat and sugar. Channel One, a news program laden with commercials mostly pushing high fat, sugary foods, is broadcast from approximately 12,000 middle school and high schools. There have been recent success in combating school commercialism, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the largest districts in California which passed an Obesity Prevention Motion in 2003 establishing strict guidelines for the foods and beverages sold during school hours and calling for an elimination of contracts and relationships between the District and branded fast-food products.
Risks of Commercializing Education: Why We Need Commercial-Free Schools (PDF)
Fact sheet and guidelines for grassroots action developed by Citizen's Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools
Tips for assessing commercialism in your school
Citizen's Campaign for Commericial Free Schools (CCCFS) is a statewide grassroots, nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington. This website provides tips on how to evaluate commercialism in schools, effective letter-writing campaigns, and crafting advocacy outreach materials.
Los Angeles Unified School District Obesity Prevention Motion
Sets nutritional standards for food authorized for sale at school sites. Outlines improvements to the food service program to make healthier foods more accessible and visible, to increase participation in school breakfast, and enhance the cafeteria as a site of learning.
San Francisco Unified Commercial Free Schools Act
This resolution passed by the San Francisco School Board works to protect children from commercial messages while in school by prohibiting exclusive vendor contracts, brand names, and tobacco subsidiary food products in district schools.
in ENACT Local Policy Database
Commercialism in Education Research Unit (CERU) at Arizona State University
CERU conducts research, disseminates information, and helps facilitate dialogue between the education community, policy makers, and the public at large about commercial activities in schools. CERU is guided by the belief that mixing commercial activities with public education raises fundamental issues of public policy, curriculum content, the proper relationship of educators to the students entrusted to them, and the values that the schools embody.
Citizen's Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools
This statewide, grassroots, non-profit group provides an excellent example of how local organizing can impact school food. Learn how they are working to protect the rights of the youth in the state of Washington by advocating for commercial-free schools.
Effects of Fast Food Branding (PDF)
This experimental study found that preschool children preferred foods and beverages wrapped in McDonald’s packaging over identical items in unbranded packaging. The authors conclude that branding influences children’s taste preferences, and agree with recommendations to regulate marketing to young children.
Robinson, T, Borzekowski, D., Matheson, D., Kraemer, H. Effects of Fast Food Branding on Young Children’s Taste Preferences. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine 2007;161(8):792-797.