Impact of competitive food standards on school food environments: The HEAC school experience 2005 to 2008

Background: Children, particularly in low-income communities, are regularly subjected to environments that discourage healthy eating and contribute to childhood overweight. In schools, competitive foods – those sold outside the school meal program – are widely available to students and tend to be high in calories, fat and sugar. In California, state legislation was passed setting nutrient standards for competitive foods in order to improve the nutritional quality of the foods and beverages sold outside of the school meal program and to positively impact students' health. The Healthy Eating, Active Communities program (HEAC), funded by The California Endowment, supports school districts in six low-income communities throughout California to improve school food environments.

Methods: The HEAC schools were assessed at baseline in 2005 and midpoint in 2008. Assessments included an inventory of all competitive food and beverage items sold. Nutrient profiles were developed for all foods and beverages inventoried, and adherence to the CA state legislation was determined.

Results: Adherence to the state competitive food standards improved amongst almost all HEAC schools at all grade levels from 2005 to 2008. However, this study found that although adherence improved, the competitive foods sold continued to provide students with additional calories but very few nutrients.

Discussion: This session will describe the extent to which implementation of the state-mandated school nutrition policy improved the healthfulness of competitive foods sold to students at the HEAC schools. Data presented will form the basis of recommendations for strengthening competitive food standards to truly create healthful food environments for students.