Smart Snacks rules hurts district’s pizza sales

OROVILLE, Calif.—Although a new set of federal standards for nutrition in schools took effect July 1, Oroville school officials said Monday they've already put the regulations into practice.

The new federal regulations, under the 2010 Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act, particularly apply to foods sold at schools and that are beyond the school meal programs.

However, both Oroville City Elementary School District and Oroville Union High School District food service directors indicated they're swimming in a sea of new rules set by both the state and federal governments.

Oroville Union High Food Services Director Paula Wakefield said in a telephone interview that the district had already implemented the regulations a year ago.

Some of the changes are minimal, but others are big.

For instance, foods containing grain products have to be 50-percent whole grain. OCESD Food Services Coordinator Paul Mabie said that regulation applies to tons of products.