Wellness Slow to Catch On

SNA survey shows how many districts face challenges.

School districts are not as far along as they should be in implementing wellness policies, as required by the Child Nutrition (CN) and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, according to a survey by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) in conjunction with the National Dairy Council.

The CN law requires that districts have wellness policies in place by July, but as of January 2006, just under 6% of districts had approved policy recommendations, about 38% had begun by drafting a policy, 40% were in the early stages of development, and 16% had not started.

Respondents cited a variety of challenges: 38% pointed to lack of funding; 29% said lack of support from students was an issue; 23% indicated that appropriate food and beverage products were not available; and 23% cited lack of support from administration.

Getting help: “We were surprised by the number of districts that hadn’t started yet,” says Erik Peterson, SNA director of public awareness. “We will redouble our efforts to provide training and materials to these districts to help them understand the process.”

Commodities Alert

FROZEN BEEF PROGRAM ENDS
USDA has purchased 1.3 million lbs. of frozen beef products, for shipment in three periods between May 1 and June 15. Buys include 280,000 lbs. of fine-ground and 1 million lbs. of reprocessing beef. These buys complete requirements for frozen beef for this school year.

BATTER/BREADED, CUT-UP CHICKEN
USDA has announced that purchases of cut-up and batter/breaded chicken are complete. Bulk-pack chicken buys, however, have not concluded: USDA has purchased 3.2 million lbs., or 216,000 lbs. chilled bulk pack (small), and 3 million lbs. of chilled bulk pack (large), for delivery April 16-30.

TURKEY PRODUCT BUYS NEAR END
USDA has purchased 1.1 million lbs. of turkey and turkey products, for delivery April 16-30. Buys include: 36,000 lbs. of bulk-pack; 480,000 lbs. of turkey roasts; and 600,000 lbs. of turkey hams. This program is nearing completion.

FROZEN POTATOES
USDA has purchased the following 6/5-lb. frozen potato products, for delivery March 16-June 15: 51,480 cases or 1.5 million lbs. of potato wedges; 75,240 cases or 2.3 million lbs. of oven fries; and 50,160 cases or 1.5 million lbs. of potato rounds.

ORANGE JUICE
USDA has purchased 499,200 lbs. of frozen concentrated orange juice in tankers. Delivery: April 1-30.

DRIED CHERRIES
USDA has purchased 22,176 cases or 354,816 lbs. of dried cherries, 8/2-lb. packs, for delivery April 16-June 30.

DRIED FIG PIECES
USDA has purchased 152,064 cases or 3.6 mil. lbs. of dried fig pieces, 24/1-lb. packs. Delivery: April 16-June 30.

FROZEN STRAWBERRIES
USDA is out to buy the following 30-lb. frozen strawberry products, for delivery July 16-December 16: 1.2 million lbs. of IQF strawberries and 2.1 million lbs. of frozen sliced strawberries.

TURKEY TACO FILLING
USDA has purchased 741,000 lbs. of frozen cooked turkey taco filling, ending the program. Notice to deliver will be issued.

BULK FOWL PROGRAM
USDA has re-opened its bulk-pack fowl program for domestic food nutrition assistance programs. Offers are sought for chilled ready-to-cook fowl chickens without necks and giblets, for further processing. Frozen may be specified in the invitation.

NO OFFERS FOR CHUNK TUNA
USDA has received no offers for chunk light tuna. Former purchases in the program amount to 86,400 cases of 66.5-oz. canned tuna and 57,120 cases of 43-oz. tuna in pouches.

FROZEN CHERRIES
USDA has purchased 202,560 cases or 6.8 million lbs. of frozen cherries for delivery March 1-June 30. Buys include: 134,400 cases or 4 million lbs. of frozen RTP, 5 1 cherries, 30 lb, and 68,160 cases or 2.7 million lbs. of frozen RTP, IQF cherries, 40 lb.

DRY EDIBLE BEANS
USDA has purchased the following dry edible bean products in 25-lb. bags, for delivery March 16-June 30: 17,600 cases or 440,000 cases of Navy Pea; 20,800 cases or 520,000 lbs. of Great Northern; 51,200 cases or 1.3 million lbs. of Pinto; and 14,400 cases or 360,000 lbs. of Split Pea.

MILK PRICES VIRTUALLY FLAT
The weighted-average, uniform price for all classes of milk was $14.71 per hundredweight in March, according to USDA’s Dairy Market News Report. This was 36 cents lower than in February, equating to 0.19-cent (or a little less than two-tenths of a cent) less per half-pint in the automatic price adjustment for April.

FOOD ALLERGY EDUCATION
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) has announced the availability of free programs to help schools safely manage students with food allergies. The program is entirely funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), enabling FAAN to offer its educational materials free to more than 10,000 schools in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington, DC.

SNA ACKNOWLEDGES CN ACTION
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) applauded the nation’s legislators for preserving federal child nutrition (CN) programs from budget cuts in 2005 and 2006, during its most recent Legislative Action Conference (LAC) on Capitol Hill. “With a debt in the trillions [of dollars], we can’t take it for granted that these programs are safe,” commented Marshall Matz, SNA’s legislative counsel.

Among SNA priorities championed by Matz during the meeting were the need for funding for the authorized Elimination of the Reduced-Price Meal Category (ERP) pilot program, nutrition education, commodities for the School Breakfast Program and the McGovern-Dole International School Lunch Program.

No, thank you: Several U.S. senators and representatives in turn lauded SNA and offered their support. “The whole concept of wellness policies is of vital importance, and I appreciate your embracing this and being part of the solution,” said Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE).

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who sent regards via video, announced plans to introduce a bill giving regulatory authority for all competitive foods served in schools to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

SENATE MAKES FY2007 REQUEST
Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee have written to the Senate Budget Committee requesting that the FY07 budget resolution preserve funding for child nutrition and food stamp programs. Reauthorization of such mandatory spending programs expires next year and will be reviewed as part of the farm bill reauthorization process.

Written by Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Tom Harkin (D-IA), ranking Democratic member, the letter also requests “adequate levels of discretionary spending” for programs within the Committee’s jurisdiction and that USDA and other agencies be enabled to fulfill critical responsibilities.

CALL FOR ‘JUNK FOOD’ AGENCY
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), along with 13 other members of the U.S. Senate, has called on the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to designate a responsible government agency to monitor junk food advertising and marketing to children.

The request follows a recommendation by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, which has recommended formal monitoring in order to protect child health and improve child nutrition.

“With the risk to the diets and health of our children well documented, concrete action toward the goals outlined by the Institute of Medicine is imperative,” the letter to Secretary Mike Leavitt states.