FoodBEAMS: Measuring and improving the school competitive food environment

BACKGROUND: States and school districts nationwide have developed policies that set nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of the school lunch program (competitive foods). The Child Nutrition Act, also now gives the USDA authority to set national nutrition standards for competitive foods. However, few tools exist for monitoring the implementation of these standards.

METHODS: The web-based Food and Beverage Environment Analysis and Monitoring System (FoodBEAMS) was developed to enable school stakeholders to efficiently monitor the school competitive food environment. In 2010, FoodBEAMS was used to collect data on competitive foods and beverages sold in 20 California high schools. Item adherence to the California competitive food and beverage policies was determined using SPSS and the analysis feature within FoodBEAMS. Data were used for a validity study comparing adherence rates to results from FoodBEAMS. Competitive food/beverage data were also compared to data collected at the same schools in 2008 to determine if schools had improved their adherence to the California policies.

RESULTS: Preliminary results indicate changes in adherence levels from 2008 to 2010 vary from school to school. More detailed adherence results and results from the validity study will be presented.

DISCUSSION: FoodBEAMS enables researchers, school personnel, and other stakeholders to monitor adherence to current state and local school competitive food standards and future national standards. Successful implementation and monitoring of competitive food and beverage standards will help to create healthier school nutrition environments.