Candy Closer to Being Banned in Ohio Schools
A bill that passed the Ohio House earlier this week would eliminate or restrict snack foods sold at school stores and vending machines at schools. Generally speaking, items sold must have fewer than 200 calories, contain no trans fat and have limited saturated fat, processed sugar and sodium. Plus, beverages cannot have more than 150 calories per serving. The ban would not affect sales of snack foods and beverages at after-school events. Now, the bill heads to the Senate.
I think this is a good idea. I mentioned before that when I was growing up, we didn’t have vending machines with candy and soda in the school. We did have a fruit vending machine in the lunchroom that went mostly untouched. I’ll admit…I have a tremendous weakness for junkfood and if there was a vending machine at school, it would have made it worse with no parent to tell me no.
Now I do realize that schools usually get a cut of the money from vending machines and everybody needs more money these days. And I know that if they can’t get the money, raising taxes will probably be the next step. So, in that way, I feel bad and it is a tough spot for schools. But I think keeping candy and soda away from students during school is a good thing.