Representatives Sellers & Pitts Propose Bill to Keep Children Healthy

Representatives Bakari Sellers and Ted Pitts introduced a bill in the House that would set standards for beverages, snacks and school lunches in an effort to fight the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that the percentage of overweight children ages 6 to 11 has more than doubled in the past 20 years, while the number of adolescents aged 12-19 who are overweight has more than tripled. Children who are overweight and obese face a host of health problems including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, and an increased risk of diabetes. In fact, type two diabetes, formally known as adult onset diabetes, has become increasingly prevalent among children.

"America is facing an obesity epidemic that we must attack from all sides -- providing healthier foods in schools is a crucial first step," said Sellers. "If we don't act now, this epidemic will have a profound impact on the future of America’s health care.”

The bill introduced by Sellers and Pitts, H.3297, outlines fat, calorie, and sugar content standards that snacks, food and beverages must meet in order to be sold in schools. It further provides that elementary schools may offer only full meals for student consumption; snacks and beverages may not be offered in vending machines in elementary schools. The snacks and beverages offered in middle and high schools will be required to conform to the same nutritional standards provided in the bill.

Organizations like the School Nutrition Association of S.C., the S.C. Farm Bureau, and the S.C. Beverage Association have been instrumental in working together with Representatives Sellers and Pitts to draft this legislation.