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SPONSOR: |
Godbey |
DATE TYPED: |
02/04/02 |
HB |
HJM 78 |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Soft Drink Alternatives |
SB |
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ANALYST: |
Wilson |
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APPROPRIATION
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Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
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FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
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NFI |
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State Department of Education (SDE)
Department of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Joint Memorial 78 requests the DOH and the
SDE to lead a study to identify the health and education benefits of replacing
carbonated soft drink machines in elementary schools with machines offering
healthy, nutritious alternatives. The Health Sciences Center of the University
of New Mexico, statewide nutrition organizations and other interested parties
are listed as participants in the study. A report from the study must be
presented and delivered to the Health and Human Services Committee and the
Legislative Education Study Committee by the October 2002 meetings.
Significant
Issues
The purpose of HJM 78 is to examine the
potential benefit of replacing carbonated soft drink vending machines in
elementary schools with machines that sell healthy alternatives, such as
flavored milk, 100% fruit juice and water.
Carbonated soft drinks are currently available for sale in
many New Mexico elementary schools. Elementary school students are typically
between the ages of six and twelve. Many school districts in New Mexico have
contracts with soda distributors and the districts receive reimbursement for
allowing the vending machines on campus. In some cases, these contracts include
incentives for the schools to sell more soda. School districts currently report
that they rely on the funding from soda contracts to support services and to
fill in the gaps in their budgets.
There are a number of reasons for concern
about the amount of carbonated soft drinks consumed by children and youth
including:
· Soda
consumption is associated with an increased risk for obesity.
· As
soda consumption has increased, milk consumption has decreased.
· Soda
consumption impacts dental health.
HJM
78 would promote collaboration among health and education agencies and other professional
organizations on the issue of student nutrition.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
NFI
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
The DOH and the SDE will have to dedicate the
staff resources to lead the study. This
should be possible within existing resources since the study is consistent with
the missions of both departments.
DUPLICATION
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Soda
consumption is associated with an increased risk for obesity. In a recent study, the average U.S. teen ingests
an extra 15-20 teaspoons of sugar per day in soda. For each sugar drink consumed per day, a child’s risk for obesity
increases by 60%. Obese children ages 5-10 already demonstrate cardiac risk
factors. For many children obesity starts in the preschool years. Children who are obese are at greater risk
for being obese adults and for suffering from many of the associated medical
risks, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Only smoking exceeds obesity as a cause for mortality in the
United States . In addition to the medical risks, obesity is also an important
predictor of psychosocial adjustment.
In a study of elementary school children ages 10-11, the children
preferred friendships with children with handicaps to children who were
overweight.
The
consumption of soda has increased significantly in the last thirty years. In 1994 only half of teens reported drinking
milk. Meals with non-milk beverages fail to achieve the Recommended Daily
Allowance for calcium. Consequences of
this shift away from milk and towards soda include:
· Increased
risk of bone fractures in adolescent girls
· Decrease
in bone density and calcium absorption during the key period of bone development
(adolescence) putting many at risk for the development of osteoporosis later in
life.
· Loss
of vitamin A and E When soda replaces milk during a meal. These vitamins are difficult to acquire
without consumption of dairy products.
Soda consumption also affects dental
health. The low pH of many soft drinks contributes to erosion of dental enamel
and the development of caries.
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