California Cracks Down ... On Bake Sales

CBS Evening News: State Prohibits Tasty Tradition To Combat Childhood Obesity Epidemic

(CBS)  In California it's still legal to sell cupcakes, cookies and brownies in a bakery ... but not at a school bake sale.

That fundraising slice of Americana - loaded with sugar and fat - has been banned in California schools by government order, reports CBS News correspondent John Blackstone.

At Piedmont High School, principal Randall Booker has enforced a zero tolerance policy for what used to be a campus tradition.

"I love the bake sales," he said. "I eat them myself. But there are state laws that we just have to abide by."

To combat the epidemic of childhood obesity, new state nutrition guidelines strictly limit the fat, sugar and total calories of any food sold on campus during school days - even before and after school.

At Montclair Elementary, the hall is lined with photos of the annual fundraiser, where eating has always played a central role.

"Food sales are a big part of our community," said Wendy Morrison, the mother of a fifth-grader. "They're more than just the selling of food. It's community coming together."

Morrison mourns the loss.

"It was actually a beloved tradition at the school."

California's effort to get fat and sugar out of school foods goes far beyond the disappearing bake sale tables. School lunches no longer consist of hot dogs, french fries and nachos. Choices now include spinach salad, healthy burritos and grilled chicken.

Principal Booker also says Piedmont High no longer sells soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi.

And the kids miss the junk food.

"Oh, I used to have nachos and sour cream and chili like everyday. They don't sell that any more. But now I have to settle for, like, this whatever," said one student.

Bake sales may once have dominated fundraising, but with the kind of money schools need these days, they're more likely to turn to walkathons, silent auctions or just plain begging for donations.

[buugah]

I''m just curious as to why this is being reported now when this law took effect last year, in July. As far as to the food being available in the schools, hot dogs and fries can be available as long as they are cooked in a way that meet the state guidelines. Overall, it is a good idea, even if we can''t have a bake sale.

[fush2]

man thats just controlling....you should be able to eat whatever the you want

[lmartink]

When donuts are outlawed, only outlaws will have donuts. The Police will suffer.

[liberate40]

This is one of those laws where state government wastes valuable resources trying to be the nitpick nanny for everyone''s kids. Eating sweets starts and ends at home, and what moms bring home from the grocery store. If you don''t want bake sales to raise money for schools, then increase educational funding for schools from all the taxes we pay.

Wow! I think this is a great idea! I''m tired of seeing moridly obese kids! Kids should not be obese. No kid should have high blood pressure or high cholesteral. Americans need to stop being so sensitive and realize obesity is a very serious issue. Make your kids go outside an play instead of looking at the idiot box for hours on end. Since the parents can''t make the kids get healthy, then the government needs to step in.

[frankfurt200]

California''s effort to get fat and sugar out of school foods goes far beyond the disappearing bake sale tables. School lunches no longer consist of hot dogs, french fries and nachos. Choices now include spinach salad, healthy burritos and grilled chicken.
*************

The above quote from this article is also a big fat lie. I know exactly what they serve daily in California schools and the menus include tacos, enchiladas, sloppy joes, fried chicken, burritos, french fries and all of that fast food krap. I don''t know where California gets off telling one story when the reality is something else.

[longtree-2009]

coke and candy machines are also readily available in CA schools or so I was informed. apparently, the coke companies give a percentage of machine take to the school but not sure about this at all. wonder if all schools have mandatory physical fitness anymore. no, not golf but sports that make minors really work out the body.

[slim1h2o]

The above quote from this article is also a big fat lie. I know exactly what they serve daily in California schools and the menus include tacos, enchiladas, sloppy joes, fried chicken, burritos, french fries and all of that fast food krap. I don''''t know where California gets off telling one story when the reality is something else.

Posted by frankfurt200 at 02:52 AM : Nov 12, 2008

LOL,,,Gee,, Thanks. Now I''m starving after reading that.

[tmittelstaed]

Oregon also banned coke and pepsi machines. And yes, coke and pepsi used to do deals like that with the schools. In a few Oregon schools the coke and pepsi companies tried selling bottled water - that didn''t go over very well, I guess kids are smart enough to not pay a buck for a bottle of water when there''s a drinking fountain 15 feet away.
The interesting thing is that back in most of the 80''s the schools in Oregon also banned coke and pepsi machines. Sometime in the 90''s, coke and pepsi managed to prevail and get their machines into the schools. Then a few years ago it reverted back to the way it was.
I do agree with banning it during school hours but after school and before school is getting rediculous, the ban during those times has nothing to do with nutrition, it is merely a political statement.
In addition, if you go into ANY teachers lounge in a school in Oregon, you will find a soft drink machine PLUS a coffee machine. The teachers in Oregon are pretty big into the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do mantra. The teachers also managed to get merit pay voted down once again during the last election - although their job is grading students, of course!!!

[slim1h2o]

Pretty soon someone will propose that the state take custody of children at birth and raise them because the state "knows more than the parents."

Posted by ronin10 at 07:04 AM : Nov 12, 2008

Sounds like Nebraska....LOL

But seriously, I agree, when are parents going to kick their kids out and away from video games and computers?

And for crying out loud,,stop having the family meal at McDonalds, BK, etc,,etc every day.
When I was in school, we did not have any vending machines in school. So, it''s time for them to go too.

And on a side note,, Quit doping up the kids on drugs for these non-medical diseases. Probably getting bloated from these behavioural drugs.

[rachel7050]

Pop was outlawed here in KY last year or the year before, bottled water is in all of the vending machines, except for the one in the teacher''s lounge. And they don''t have a vending machine with snacks, but they do sell candy and chips for $.50 an piece in the attendance office.

[hologram5]

This is ludacris! I cannot believe the lengths that these idiots will go to decide what is "best" for us. WHO the heck are they to tell me what I can and cannot eat? I am an adult and WILL make my own decisions on that fact...

[emilymhanson]

Making certain foods forbidden will only entice kids to want to eat more of them the moment they get the chance to. Rules like this are a bad idea.

They should offer more exercise instead of forbidding things. You can''t reasonably expect kids or adults to sit at desks all day and not gain weight. It''s the sitting all day that''s doing it.

[rushman71]

This is just another example of the California Health Nazis,"You vill eat dis, vhether you like it or not. Do vhat I zay, and no vone vill get hurt!!! SCHNELL!!!"

[questionnews]

Banning snack food in the schools only benefits the illicit snack food dealers. These dealers want the ban. They can buy a HoHo for .65 cents & turn a deal at school for $1.00. To these villains, it''s worth the chance of getting caught with a 12 pack of Twinkies when there so much coin to score.

[sfden]

STEP AWAY FROM THE CAKE!
STEP AWAY FROM THE CAKE!

[jt_lancer]

Your government at work, folks. These are the elected officials that the voters chose to ''represent'' them.

Nice job, voters.

[yongamerica]

The terminator finished off the bake sale.
He''ll be back to ban the chess club next.

[buugah]

I''''m just curious as to why this is being reported now when this law took effect last year, in July. As far as to the food being available in the schools, hot dogs and fries can be available as long as they are cooked in a way that meet the state guidelines. Overall, it is a good idea, even if we can''''t have a bake sale.

[sharednotion]

Isn''t a part of learning good eating habits, learning moderation? As long as the public schools ban unhealthy and less-healthy foods from the daily lunchroom menus, allowing such foods at occassional school-related events (such as bake sales, and what is sold at school sporting events), will teach young people the HEALTHY message, that you CAN treat yourself to a few sugary goodies on SPECIAL occassions, as long as your USUAL, day-to-day eating habits are healthy.

[my5200-2009]

I understand the epidemic of fat kids and fat adults. But education is the answer to healthy living and eating. I am against the government telling us what we can eat and what to feed our kids. That is too much government intervention.

[nikosk11]

TOOTALL1014:

You obviously missed the headlines, a couple of days ago, about how bad our economy is and how many thousands of people are loosing their jobs and - what a surprise - McDonalds'' business are skyrocketing? A brainer? No, if people are poor, a Big Mack and fries is a luxury meal to them. Or, you didn''t read the med report a few months ago saying that obesity goes hand-in-hand with poverty. Use your brains [if you have any] before you write your 2 cents comment.

[govwatch-2009]

I agree those school administrations and parents just are not wise enough to do what is right for the children or themselves, the government must step in and take responsibility for them. IDIOTS

[amrt5016]

I understand the epidemic of fat kids and fat adults. But education is the answer to healthy living and eating. I am against the government telling us what we can eat and what to feed our kids. That is too much government intervention.
Posted by my5200 at 01:45 PM : Nov 12, 2008

Too much? When those kids grow up to be adults with health problems, don''t they strain the health care system, which affects everybody and increases government expenditure? So the government has a clear and obvious interest in stepping in.

And how about drug-dealing and pornographic businesses being within proximity of schools? Aren''t there more stringent laws regulating them? Is that too much too? It''s the same principle.

[gopack443]

Just glad I don''t live there.

[gopack443]

I think everyone always knew that after smokers they would be coming after fat people. I wonder who they go after next to make a perfect society of healthy people?

[my2centss]

"I think everyone always knew that after smokers they would be coming after fat people. I wonder who they go after next to make a perfect society of healthy people?"

Posted by gopack443 at 03:14 PM : Nov 12, 2008

People who spend too much time at computers, or TV are next.

[schadmin]

Schools in California are required to provide foods that are low in fat. No more than 30% fat, no more than 400 calories per entree, carbonated beverage are prohibited, juice cannot be more than 12 ounces in size and must contain real fruit juice. There are no vending machines containing candy at school sites. Sodas and other foods can be sold 30 minutes after school is dismissed. Violation of the nutrition standards can result is FEDERAL and State loss of apportionments for the child nutrition program. There are a lot of other regulations and more to come effective July 1, 2009. These are the facts. If your school is serving fried chicken, and I doubt it is fried, they are in violation of the State and Federal nutrition standards.

[grammawhamma]

I''m glad I lived my life while we were still allowed to live life!