Commentary: Is Congress About to Undercut Progress Against Childhood Obesity?
End Notes
[1] See “Childhood Obesity Facts,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm.
[2] See United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, news release, “Unhealthy diets greater threat to health than tobacco; UN expert calls for global regulation,” May 19, 2014, http://www.srfood.org/images/stories/pdf/press_releases/20140519_diets_en.pdf.
[3] See Asheley Cockrell Skinner and Joseph A. Skelton, “Prevalence and Trends in Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Children in the United States, 1999-2012,” JAMA Pediatrics, April 7, 2014, http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1856480 and “Vital Signs: Obesity Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children — United States, 2008–2011,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 9, 2013, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6231a4.htm.
[4] See Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Andrew P. Steinmetz, “Finally, Some Optimism About Obesity,” New York Times, May 4, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/opinion/finally-some-optimism-about-obesity.html?_r=4.
[5] See “Vital Signs: Obesity Among Low-Income, Pre-school-Aged Children — United States, 2008-2011,” 2013.
[6] See Juliana F.W. Cohen et al., “Impact of the New U.S. Department of Agriculture School Meal Standards on Food Selection, Consumption, and Waste,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 46, Issue 4, pages 388–394, April 2014, http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(13)00635-1/abstract.
[7] The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/HealthyHungerFreeKidsActof2010.pdf.
[8] See 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3) and Zoë Neuberger, “Using School Lunch Subsidies for Low-Income Students as Intended,” Off the Charts blog, June 13, 2011, http://www.offthechartsblog.org/using-school-lunch-subsidies-for-low-income-students-as-intended/.
[9] See Section 739 of the House Appropriations Committee-passed fiscal year 2015 agriculture appropriations bill, available at http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4800/text.
[10] See Committee on Education & the Workforce Democrats press release, “Reps. Farr, DeLauro and Miller fight Republican attempts to weaken school lunch nutrition standards,” June 11, 2014, http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/press-release/reps-farr-delauro-and-miller-fight-republican-attempts-weaken-school-lunch-nutrition.
[11] See “House GOP bill would roll back school lunch rules,” Washington Post, May 19, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/house-gop-bill-would-roll-back-school-lunch-rules/2014/05/19/365e7ba8-df69-11e3-9442-54189bf1a809_story.html.
[12] See, for example, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service Memorandum, “Extending Flexibility in the Meat/Meat Alternate and Grains Maximums for School Year 2013-14,” February 25, 2013, http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/SP26-2013os.pdf.
[13] Zoë Neuberger and Tina Fritz Namian, “Who Benefits From Federal Subsidies for Free and Reduced Price School Meals?” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, January 9, 2010, p. 5, https://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3071.
[14] The Senate bill requires the current sodium limits to remain in place until scientific research supports a reduction, requires USDA to assess whether there is an acceptable range of whole grain products available and, if not, identify alternatives, and requires USDA to develop a training and technical assistance plan to help school districts comply with meal standards and maintain participation. See Section 747 of the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed fiscal year 2015 agriculture appropriations bill, available at http://beta.congress.gov/113/bills/s2389/BILLS-113s2389pcs.pdf.
[15] See 42 U.S.C. 1779. A summary of the snack rules is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/allfoods_summarychart.pdf.
[16] Neuberger and Namian, 2010.
[17] Zoë Neuberger, “Rampell’s Right: ‘You Say Potato, I Say Precedent,’” Off the Charts blog, May 9, 2014, http://www.offthechartsblog.org/rampells-right-you-say-potato-i-say-precedent/.
[18] See Section 738 of the House Appropriations Committee-passed fiscal year 2015 agriculture appropriations bill, available at http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4800/text.
[19] See Section 745 of the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed fiscal year 2015 agriculture appropriations bill, available at http://beta.congress.gov/113/bills/s2389/BILLS-113s2389pcs.pdf.