|
|
MESSAGE
FROM SCHOOL CAFETERIA WORKERS: EAT YOUR VEGETABLES
AFT Survey of School Food Service Workers Sheds More Light on Causes
of Obesity in Children
59.7
Percent of Respondents Report that Snack Foods Are Sold in the School
Cafeteria
ANAHEIM,
CALIF. – Nutritious food is losing the school lunch battle
to prepackaged cakes, chips and other snacks, according to a survey
of food service workers released today by the Paraprofessional and
School-Related Personnel (PSRP) division of the American Federation
of Teachers (AFT).
Nearly three out of five (56.6 percent) school food service workers
polled said that, when given a choice, students are choosing foods
high in fat and sugar from the school cafeteria. Almost 60 percent
report that prepackaged chips, cakes, cookies and other snack foods
are sold by their school food service operation. This is occurring
despite legislative efforts to limit the sale of candy, fried snacks,
soda and other junk food from vending machines and, in some states,
even school bake sales. The Arizona and Oregon Legislatures are
voting on junk food bans this week, and a bill is before the California
Legislature.
Additionally, food service workers report that the two most popular
food entrees sold are pizza (51.8 percent) and chicken nuggets (17.3
percent), while the least favorite offerings are fish and vegetables.
Roughly half of those surveyed (47.3 percent) report that candy,
gum, chips, soda and fruit punch are still sold at school in competition
with the cafeteria.
“The three basic food groups should not be sugar, salt and grease,”
said AFT vice president Lorretta Johnson of Baltimore. “Our members
are very frustrated. More needs to be done to limit snack foods
in school cafeterias. This is an important health issue, and schools
can help children develop healthy eating habits.”
Last September, the National Institute of Medicine said that nine
million children over age six are obese. The news from the school
cafeteria is not all bad. Nine out of 10 respondents said
the quality of food served to schoolchildren in their lunchrooms
was good or excellent; an equal number gave high marks for the way
the food was presented.
“We need to steer students to more healthy options,” said AFT vice
president David Gray of Oklahoma City. “It's tough. Children tell
us the choices they make in school reflect the diet they have at
home.” Added Gray, “Junk food sells, but a balanced diet is
more important than balancing the books.”
One survey finding that requires more study is the high number of
food service workers who report children going hungry because they
don't qualify for a subsidized lunch and don't have the money to
buy food. Twelve percent of rural respondents, 17 percent of urban
food service workers and a surprising 35.4 percent of suburban food
service workers say they witness hungry children at school.
Breakout data from the survey can be found on the Web at http://www.aft.org/psrp/download/SFSNationalSurvey.pdf
. AFT's food service survey was conducted between mid-February
and mid-March among 226 food service workers from small town, rural,
suburban and urban school districts throughout the United States.
The workers hold a variety of jobs related to school food service,
including food preparers, servers, cashiers and directors.
The American Federation of Teachers is holding its annual PSRP conference
at the Anaheim Hilton in Anaheim, Calif., March 31-April 3.
|
|
