Congress considering legislative ban on junk food in schools

If a new amendment to the $286 billion farm bill survives the Senate, school kids will have a tougher time getting their junk food fix at school. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) worked on the amendment with players from both sides of the controversy, including the American Beverage Association and an advocacy group critical of the food industry, Center for Science in the Public Interest.

New standards for elementary and middle schools would only allow bottled water, 8-oz servings of fruit juice and plain or flavored low-fat milk with a max of 170 calories. High schools could additionally sell diet soda and sports drinks. Goodbye candy bars, sugar soda and other junk -- vending, snack bars and a la carte foods would contain no more than 35 percent sugar, with fats, sodium and calories limited, too.

The food and beverage industry helped pen the new standards, which ups the amendment's chances in Congress. But not all food activists are pleased with the corporate involvement nor exemptions allowing chocolate milk, sports drinks and diet soda. I see this effort in a fairly positive light. We live in a political world, and while the amendment may not be ideal, it's better than nothing. If kids keep getting heavier, stricter regulations will follow.