All food sold in schools - including through vending machines - could be regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization, according to Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Harkin, in the confirmation hearing for Kevin Concannon as head of USDA's food and nutrition programs, said that a draft of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization would give USDA authority to oversee all food in schools, so that junk food in vending machines would not "undermine" food served through the current school nutrition programs. He also said the committee will begin work on the legislation in October or November.
Harkin is currently working on health care reform and the annual spending bills, and in an effort to curb childhood obesity, co-sponsored a bill earlier this year setting nutrition standards for food in school vending machines and stores. Concannon told Harkin he wants to address health issues caused by poor nutrition through work with other federal and state agencies.
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