Food in schools

Hershey Foods Corporation

While people gen-erally tend to ignore public issues unless they are personally affected, mention the well-being

of children and everyone listens. What's more, many are ready to take action.

In this regard, an issue which has commanded a great deal of attention in recent years is "competitive foods," or more precisely, what foods may be sold in schools in addi-tion to the approved school lunches.

Some years ago, as a result of a national interest in proper nutrition and in response to a significant cafeteria plate waste problem, the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture and many school boards became concerned about the sale of certain foods in schools and pro-posed limitations on what could be sold.

In 1980 the USDA issued a ruling under which certain categories of foods of minimal nutritional value were restricted for sale throughout the school from the beginning of the school day to the end of the last lunch period* The categories included: soda water, water ices, chewing gum and certain candies (hard candy, jellies, gums, marshmallow candies, fondant, licorice, spun candy and candy-coated popcorn).

All of HERSHEY'S milk choco-late products, however, were eligible for sale in the schools.

* A food of minimal nutritional value is defined as one which provides less than 5% of the U.S. RDA of all eight specified nutrients on both a per 100 calories and per serving "basis. The eight nutrients specified are vitamins A and C, protein, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, calcium and iron.

On May 17, 1985, the USDA published revised ' 'time and place'' requirements which con-trol the sale of competitive foods and foods of minimal nu-tritional value only during breakfast and lunch periods in food service areas (cafeterias or other places where meals are served and eaten). Under the new ruling, the USDA no longer restricts food sold on school premises outside the food service area. However, such re-strictions can be imposed by state and local governments and / or school food authorities.

Under the revised ruling, state and local governments and/or food authorities also may regulate the sale or income on the sale of foods of minimal value occurring on school premises outside the food service area. To qualify for sale in schools, a food must contain at least 5% of the U.S. RDA for at least one or more of the eight nutrients listed.

At Hershey Foods Corpora-tion, we believe that any regula-tion regarding food sold in schools must be based on scien-tific fact, and that a nutri-tional analysis, not food stereo-types or perceived nutritional values, should be the basis for making decisions.

For example, a MR. GOODBAR Chocolate Bar qualifies for sale in schools based on its nutri-tional value. A MR. GOODBAR Chocolate Bar contains milk and peanuts, which are the ingre-dients that make a substan-tial contribution to the nutri-tional value of the bar. (Milk contributes protein and ribo-flavin, while peanuts contrib-ute protein and niacin.) How-ever, without a scientific nutri-tional analysis many people might not be aware of this infor-mation.

We hope that state and local governments and school food authorities who may be review-ing the question of "compe-titive foods" also will consider the nutritional content of individual foods before estab-lishing any limits on what can be sold during school hours.

The following HERSHEY'S products qualify for sale in schools*

HERSHEY'S Chocolate Milk (8 oz., 2% lowfat)

HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar (1.45 oz.)

HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar with Almonds (1.45 oz.)

HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates (1.3 oz./8 pieces)

KIT KAT Wafer Bar (1.5 oz.)

KRACKEL Chocolate Bar (1.45 oz.)

MR. 600DBAR Chocolate Bar (1.65 oz.)

NEW TRAIL Peanut Butter Granola Snack Bar (1.4 oz.)

NEW TRAIL Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Snack Bar (1.4 oz.)

REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups (1.6 oz./2 cups)

REESE'S Crunchy Peanut Butter Cups (1.6 oz./2 cups)

REESE'S PIECES Candy (1.75 oz.)

WHATCHAMACALLIT Candy Bar (1.4 oz.)

* Standard serving size indicated in parentheses

For additional information: Consumer Relations Hershey Foods Corporation P.O. Box 815 Hershey, PA 17033-0815

Printed in U.S.A. 11/85 © 1985 Hershey Foods Corporation