Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Vending Machine Guidelines

Elementary level:
  *  Bottled Water
  *  Up to 8 oz servings of fat-free or low-fat milk, or USDA approved nutritional equivalent milk alternatives
  *  Up to 8 oz servings servings of fat-free or low-fat nutritionally equivalent flavored milk up to 150 calories/8 oz
  *  Up to 8 oz servings of 100% juice with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories/8 oz


Middle school level:
  *  Bottled Water
  *  Up to 10 oz servings of fat-free or low-fat milk, or USDA approved nutritionally equivalent milk alternatives
  *  Up to 10 oz servings servings of fat-free or low-fat nutritionally equivalent flavored milk up to 150 calories/8 oz
  *  Up to 10  oz servings of 100% juice with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories/8 oz


High school level:
At least 50% of non-milk beverages must be water and no or low calorie options
*   Bottled water
*  No or low calorie beverages with up to 10 calories/8 oz (i.e., diet sodas, unsweetened diet teas, low calorie
    sport drinks, fitness waters, flavored waters, seltzers)
*  Up to 12 oz servings of fat free or low fat milk. Milk includes nutritionally equivalent milk alternatives (per USDA)
*  Up to 12 oz servings of fat free or low fat nutritionally equivalent flavored milk up to 150 calories / 8 ounces
*  Up to 12 ounce servings of 100% juice, with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories / 8 ounces
*  Other drinks, up to 12 ounce servings with no more than 66 calories / 8 ounces

• Milk, flavored or unflavored with no artificial sweeteners and no more than 4 grams of sugar per ounce.
• Nondairy milk such as soy or rice milk, which may be flavored but contain no artificial sweeteners, no more than 4 grams of sugar per fluid ounce, no more than 35 percent of calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat;
• 100% fruit, vegetable or combination juice, with no added sugars, sweeteners or artificial sweeteners;
• Beverages containing only water and fruit or vegetable juice, having no added sugars, sweeteners or artificial sweeteners. These beverages must also meet the requirements specified in Requirements for Beverages Containing Water and Juice;
• Water, which may be flavored but contain no added sugars, sweeteners or artificial sweeteners or caffeine; and
• Portion sizes, excluding water as described above, may not exceed 12 ounces.
• Beverages that do not meet the requirement of state statute can only be sold to students on school premises if the local board of education votes to permit them and the following conditions are met: 1) the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend; 2) the sale is at the location of the event; and 3) the beverages are not sold from a vending machine or school store. Schools are permitted to sell beverages that are not allowed by Chapter 170, Section 10-221q to teachers and other school staff members, as long as they are not accessible to students (e.g., a soda machine in teachers' lounge or coffee sold only to adults in the cafeteria). However, the Connecticut State Department of Education encourages districts to consider this issue in relation to the promotion of staff wellness practices.

• Nutrition information for products offered in snack bars, ala carte, vending, etc. is readily available near the point of purchase
• All snack and beverage items sold or served anywhere on school property, including items sold in ala carte lines and fundraisers, provided in classrooms, or served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program, must meet the following standards (per serving). Standards do not apply to fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.
  • No more than 8 grams of total fat
  • No more than 2 grams of saturated fat
  • Zero grams of trans fat
  • No more than 200 calories
  • No more than 200 milligrams of sodium
  • More than 2 grams of dietary fiber
• All beverages may not exceed 12 ounces, with the exception of water and 1% or less milk.
• Products containing 2% milk fat or more may not exceed 8 ounces.
• Limit sugar

 Other Food Sales: State Board of Education Rule 281 IAC 58.9-11 (2009)  restricts the sale of a la carte, vending and regulated fundraising as follows:

• Food and beverages listed as a part of a NSLP reimbursable meal may be sold in the same portion size and frequency a la carte without having to meet the Healthy Kids Act Nutritional Content Standards. Items not offered as part of a reimbursable meal must meet all standards listed below.
• Calories for entrees may not exceed 400 
• Calories for sides may not exceed 200 calories
• Sodium for entrees may not exceed 600 mg (480 mg by 2014)
• Sodium for sides may not exceed 400 mg (200 mg by 2014)
• Saturated fat may not exceed 10% (excluding reduced fat cheese)
• Trans fat may not exceed 0.5 gm/serving
• Total fat may not exceed 35% calories (excluding nuts, seeds, nut butters and reduced fat cheese)
• Sugar may not exceed 35% calories (excluding fruits and yogurts)
• 50% of grains offered must be whole grain

Beverages in a la carte, vending and regulated fundraising are restricted to the following:

• Milk - low fat/nonfat regular, low fat/nonfat flavored with no non-nutritive sweeteners, <27 gm sugar/8 oz (2014), <24 gm sugar/8oz (2017), <22 gm sugar/8 oz (2020)
• 100% Fruit/Vegetable Juice with no added sweeteners
• Water with no added non-nutritive sweeteners
• No sports drinks or flavored water for elementary students during the school day
• No caffeinated beverages for elementary students during the school day, with the exception of beverages that contain trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine-related substances (e.g., chocolate milk).
• No sodas or carbonated beverages are to be made available to any students during the school day.

• Fat - 35% or less of total calories (or less than 4g per 100 calories), except for nuts, seeds and nut butters
• Sugar - 35% or less of weight from total sugar (or less than 9 g per 100 calories), except fruit without added sugar.
• Calories - 200 calories or less
• Non-caloric water
• Only low-fat (1% or 1/2%) and-or skim milk
• Soy or rice beverage with 35% or less of weight from total sugar (less than 9 grams per 100 calories)
• 100% juice
• Electrolyte replacement beverages that contain 48 g or less of sweetener per 20-oz selling unit may be located in drink machines located near high school athletic training centers.
  
  

Beverages

• Juice: 100% fruit or vegetable juice with no added sugar, no more than 4 oz
• Milk and Milk Substitutes:  Fat free or low-fat (1% or less), no more than 8 oz and 22 grams of sugar per 8 oz
• Water: No added sugars, sweeteners or artificial sweeteners, but may contain natural flavorings and/or carbonation
• Beverages with added sugar or sweeteners:  Any beverages with added sugar or sweeteners not already prohibited in section 225.200 will be phased out by August 1, 2013; provided, however, that a public school may provide or sell flavored milk or milk substitutes that contain the same amount or less sugar than plain fat-free or low-fat milk.   
• Other Beverages:  No beverages other than juice, milk, milk substitutes and water may be sold or provided. 

Food

• Calories: May not exceed 200 calories/item (except a la carte entrées, which may not exceed NSLP entrée items 
• Fat: No more than 35% of total calories, except as provided in 105 CMR 225.200
• Saturated Fat:  No more than 10% of total calories, except as provided in 105 CMR 225.2
• Exceptions to fat and saturated fat include up to 1 ounce of nuts, nut butters, seeds, or reduced fat cheese.
• Trans Fat: Must be trans-fat free.
• Sugar: No more than 35% of total calories from total sugars. Exceptions include  non-fat or low-fat yogurt, including drinkable yogurt, with a a maximum of 30 grams of total sugars per 8 ounces and  100% fruit with no added sugar.
• Sodium: No more than 200 mg per item. Exceptions include a la carte entrees (480 mg sodium limit)
• Grains: All bread and other grain-based products must be whole grain
• Artificial sweeteners: No food or beverage may contain an artificial sweetener.
• Caffeine: No food or beverage may contain more than trace amounts of caffeine.

Elementary School:

• Bottled water.
• 1% and non-fat milk and flavored milk, including nutritionally equivalent milk alternatives, with no more than 160 calories per 8 oz serving.
• 100% juice containing at least 10% of the RDV for 3 or more vitamins and minerals, no added sweeteners and no more than 120 calories per 8 oz.
• Portion size limit of 8 oz for milk and juice. 

Middle School:

Same as elementary school with a size limit of 10oz for milk and juice

High School:

• Bottled water
• No/low calorie beverages no more than 10 calories per 8 oz.
• 100% juice containing at least 10% of the RDV for three or more vitamins and minerals, no added sweeteners and no more than 120 calories per 8 oz.
• Light juices and sports drinks with no more than 66 cal per 8 oz.
• At least 50% of beverages must be water and no/low calorie options.
• Portion size limit of 12 oz for milk, juice, light juice and sports drinks.

Outside of the meal periods, as of the 2008-09 school year all foods offered through vending, snack bars, student stores and other fundraising programs must meet the following standards:

• At least 5% of the recommended daily value for three or more nutrients
• No more than 200 calories per package.
• No more than 35% calories form fat with a 7 g maximum, excluding nuts, seeds, peanut and other nut butters, and cheeses.
• No more than 10% calories from saturated and/or trans fat with a 2g maximum, excluding nuts, seeds, peanut and other nut butters, and cheeses.
• No more than 35% added sugar by weight with a 15g maximum, exclusing sugars naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables and dairy.
• No more than 5 g total sugar per ounce for smoothies, yogurt and pudding.
• Must include fruits and vegetables anywhere snack items are sold.

• No Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) including any carbonated beverages, water ices, chewing gum and certain candies.
• Fat limited to 30% of calories (not including nuts, seeds, fluid milk products containing 2% or less fat, and cheese or yogurt made from reduced-fat, low-fat or fat-free milk).
• Saturated fat limited to 10% of calories.
• Sodium: no more than 600mg/serving.
• Sugars: no more than 35% by weight (not including sugars from fruit and vegetables when used as additives).
• Electrolyte replacement beverages are not allowed in elementary schools and may not exceed 12 ounces for middle/junior and high schools.
• Snacks and beverages must meet portion size limits outlined in the Statewide School Wellness Policy (2005).

Schools with a majority of students in grades K-4 :

• Water
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, including flavored milk, 8 oz or less, with no more than 170 calories/8 oz (until Jan 1, 2014).
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, including flavored milk, 8 oz or less, with no more than 150 calories/8 oz (after Jan 1, 2014).
• 100% fruit juice, or 100% fruit juice and water blend with no added sweeteners, 8 oz or less, with no more than 160 calories/8 oz

Schools with a majority of students in grades 5-8:

• Water
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, including flavored milk, 8 oz or less, with no more than 170 calories/8 oz (until Jan 1, 2014).
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, including flavored milk, 8 oz or less, with no more than 150 calories/8 oz (after Jan 1, 2014).
• 100% fruit juice, or 100% fruit juice and water blend with no added sweeteners, 10 oz or less, with no more than 160 calories/8 oz
  
  Schools with a majority of students in grades 9-12:

• Water
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, including flavored milk, 16 oz or less, with no more than 170 calories/8 oz (until Jan 1, 2014).
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, including flavored milk, 16 oz or less, with no more than 150 calories/8 oz (after Jan 1, 2014).
• 100% fruit juice, or 100% fruit juice and water blend with no added sweeteners, 12 oz or less, with no more than 160 calories/8 oz
• Any beverage of 12 oz or less that contains no more than 66 calories/8 oz.Any size beverage that contains no more than 10 calories/8 oz, including caffeinated beverages and beverages with added sweeteners, carbonation, or artificial flavoring.

The following restrictions apply to any snack item (generally regarded as supplementing a meal, such as chips, crackers, onion rings, nachos, French fries, doughnuts, cookies, etc.):

• No more than 35% of the total calories from fat (not applicable to legumes, nuts, nut butters, seeds, eggs, non-fried vegetables and cheese).
• No more than 10% of total calories from fat (not applicable to nuts, eggs and cheese)
• No more than 35% sugar by weight (not applicable to fruit and vegetables
• No more than .5 grams of trans fat per serving
• No more than 150 total calories if sold in a school in which the highest grade level in the school is grad 5 or less, 180 total calories in which the highest grade level is 6-8, and 200 total calories if which the highest grade level is 9-12.

Beverages sold in a school are limited to the following:

• Water
• Fruit or vegetable juice (no more than 8 oz for up to grade 5, 10 oz for grades 6-8, and 12 oz for grades 9-12) that is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 120 calories per eight ounces.
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 oz for up to grade 5 (10 oz for grades 6-8 and 12 oz for grades 9-12) is fat free or low fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 150 calories per 8 ounces.
• No calorie or low-calorie beverages containing no more than 10 calories per 8 ounces (grades 9-12 only)
• A beverage that is not more than 12 oz and cont

The following standards apply to all foods offered through vending machines:

• Packages must be in single serving sizes
• Foods of minimal nutritional value may not be available anytime during the school day.
• Items must provide <250 calories per serving.
• Contain <35% of calories from total fat (excluding nuts, seeds, nut butters, and reduced fat cheeses).
• Contain <10% calories from saturated fat (excluding reduced fat cheeses).
• Contain <35% sugar by weight (excluding naturally occurring sugars and low fat yogurts).
• Not contain sugar as the first ingredient
• Provide minimal to no trans fatty acids
• May not be fried
• Fruits or vegetables will be available in at least one food vending area, and in all vending areas where refrigerated vending is available.

At the elementary level, vending may only offer the following: fruits, vegetables, yogurts, low-fat yogurts and reduced-fat cheeses. Only the following beverages are allowed: plain water, flavored water with no sugars or artificial sweeteners, 100% fruit and/or vegetable juice (8 oz or less), milk (flavored or unflavored) that is 2% fat or less, 8 oz or less, no more than 30 grams of sugar per 8 oz with no artificial sweeteners.
At the middle and high school level, at least 75% of beverages must be:

• Plain water
• Flavored water with no sugars or artificial sweeteners (any size)
• Flavored water with artificial sweeteners (17 oz or less, may not make up more than 25% of water and juice selections)
• 100% fruit and/or vegetable juice (12 oz or less).
• Carbonated beverages with 70-100% pure juice with no added ingredients except water
• Milk (flavored or unflavored). At least 75% of milk offered must be 2% fat or less, 12 oz or less size, no more than 30 grams of sugar per 8 oz, with no artificial sweeteners.
• The other 25% or less of beverages may not exceed 150 calories per package and 35 grams of sugar per package.

National Academy of Science - Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools:Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth

National Association of State Boards of Education - State School Health Policy Database 

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine - Student Access to Competitive Foods in Elementary Schools: Trends over Time and Regional Differences

Labels: Policy, The Numbers

by E Pace at 9:12 AM |