What Got Left Out of Smart Snacks In School?

Based on the USDA's "Smart Snacks In School" rules, school snacks & beverages must be whole-grain-rich, protein-rich, and/or fruit- & vegetable-rich. Then, once that initial rule is met, there are nutrient limits set on the item's calories, fats, sugars, and sodium that must be met.

But, what didn't get limits or even a mention at all in Smart Snacks In School?

[Source]

• artificial food dyes
• artificial preservatives
• high fructose corn syrup
• partially-hydrogenated oils (there is a cap placed on trans fat, but it still allows less than 0.5g per item)
• artificial sweeteners

Based on these rules, items like diet sodas and whole-grain snack bars with HFCS could make the cut and be a staple in school vending machines.

Do you think these ingredients should be limited from school snacks and beverages?

In an article in MSN, Michele Simon, a food policy lawyer and author, says of the rules, "'Diet soda is fine – which is an abomination as far as I am concerned.'" She adds: "'They [the USDA] are still focused on nutrients and grams of fat, and not grams of sugar' explaining that under the new rules, flavored milk has a size limit but no sugar limit" [read full article here].

What do you think? 

© Annabel Adams, Smart Snacks In School, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Annabel Adams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.