Junk Food In The Schools

To the Editor:

Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to tour the spectacular new Reed 5/6 School here in Newtown. To say I was dazzled is an understatement. It was marred by a major disappointment, however. During my tour, I got to see the food service facilities that I understand are operated under contract by Sodexho, Inc. At that time, I may have met (food services general manager) Ms Cook or one of her colleagues. I also had an opportunity to speak briefly with Dr Pitkoff and Mr Rosenthal on the subject that I’m writing about here.

Gentlemen and Ms Cook, I’m writing to seek your assistance. I am disappointed with what you’re selling our children. I saw a complete assortment of Frito-Lay products. I saw Nabisco’s entire line of cookie products, as well as all the offerings of the Coca-Cola Company, Nestle and M&M/Mars. I also saw a sign on the wall offering at least eight varieties of ice cream. And what junk food collection wouldn’t be complete without Pop-Tarts?

I realize that you don’t need another parent with a cause calling on you but here are some facts:

*Childhood obesity is epidemic. The percentage of adolescents who are overweight has tripled in the last 20 years. 84 percent of children and eat too much fat and 91 percent eat too much saturated fat.

*Type II diabetes, and heart disease, once considered only adult health problems, are rampant among children.

Mr Rosenthal, when I brought up my concerns to you, your reply to me was, “It’s lunch –– what about breakfast and dinner that we can’t do anything about?”

Ms Cook (or your representative), you said, “We do sell some fruit –– bananas and apples.”

Dr Pitkoff, you shrugged your shoulders and said, “It’s a contract program. We have no control over what they sell.”

Mr Landel (president and CEO of Sodexho), you and I haven’t spoken, but I’ll take some liberties with the “Our Commitment to Responsible Leadership” that appears at your Sodexho website. On that page, you say, “Our mission is to improve the quality of daily life for all the people we serve. Being socially responsible is central to this commitment…”

Folks, if you’ll allow me to mix my metaphors, let me say what a load of garbage you all serve up. Mr Rosenthal, I know you better. You don’t duck problems; you tackle them. Ms Cook, Nabisco, Frito-Lay, Coco-Cola, Nestle, Mars and Kellogg’s collectively spend in excess of ten billion dollars to advertise and market their products –– a large chunk of that is targeted to children and teens. Here’s food for thought: When was the last time you saw a television commercial for an apple?

Dr Pitkoff and Mr Landel, I only ask, what does the phrase “social responsibility” mean to you? What obligations do you feel you have to our children to teach them overtly or covertly about good living habits? Do you feel any obligation to even attempt to level the playing field with regard to the intense messaging to our kids?

I’m not naive enough to suggest that this stuff must go. I know it can’t because it’s business just like cigarettes are business. There is lots of talk from state and federal legislators on the subject of legislation to ban junk food. I certainly hope not. We don’t need any more governmental regulations.

Here’s an idea. Mr Landel, why don’t you have your pricing folks double the prices of all the junk food? Unit sales may decline but you’ll likely continue to make the same money. You might make more money, a portion of which could be used to fund a nutritional education program (perhaps nothing more than signs and lower prices on your apples and bananas!) in your host schools.

Larry Berk

1 Sweetbrair Lane, Sandy Hook                                August 20, 2003