CITIZENS' CAMPAIGN FOR COMMERCIAL-FREE SCHOOLS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 18, 2003

CONTACT:
Brita Butler-Wall
206. 523.4922

Sylvia Haven
206.522.3943

Citizens Push to Get Junkfood out of Schools

Hearing Scheduled for Wed. Night

On Wednesday, Feb. 19th, the legislature will hear from a broad coalition of citizens calling for legislation to stop sales and marketing of junkfood and sodas in Washington's public schools. The House Health Care committee will hold a hearing on HB1866, 'Nutrition in schools', introduced by Rep. Eileen Cody (D-11th) at 6 PM in HHRB.

The junkfood bill is supported by a broad coalition of health, education and community organizations spearheaded by the Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools and the Children's Alliance, two statewide grassroots advocacy groups. The soft drink industry has actively opposed the bill.

Groups supporting the effort to get junkfood out of schools include the Washington State PTA, the Washington Oral Health Coalition, the Washington State Food and Nutrition Council, the Washington State Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group, the Washington State Public Health Association, School Nurses of Washington, the Washington Federation of Teachers, the Washington State Dietetic Association, the Washington Chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network, and many more.

"Parents are angry to discover that our schools have become a free-for-all for junkfood marketers," says Brita Butler-Wall, Executive Director of the Citizens¹ Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools. "We have a public health crisis of childhood obesity and diabetes, and it is outrageous that schools are now encouraging our children to consume junkfood and sodas."

Even School Board members agree that something must be done. "This public health crisis should not be left up to sporadic, haphazard policy making at the local level. Our children's health is being compromised for the sake of fundraising," says Sue Paro, former School Board member from Northshore District. "Educating our children is the "paramount duty" of the state. Educating our children about healthy eating is part of that."

A similar bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Education Committee at 1:30 on Friday, Feb. 28th. That bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-36th.

For more information about the Citizens¹ Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools, see the CCCS website at www.scn.org/cccs. CCCS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the right of all Washington children to a commercial-free public education.