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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums80 Percent of Public Schools Have Contracts With Coke or Pepsi
from Mother Jones:
Is your kid's public school a Coke school or a Pepsi school?
If you don't know what I mean, consider yourself lucky. Starting in the early '90s, cash-strapped public schools began selling exclusive "pouring rights" to one or another Big Soda company, which would then supply all the beverages sold in on-site snack bars, stores, and soda machines as well as at sports events. Along with sugary drinks, of course, the companies also stuffed the schools with plenty of advertisements.
In 2005, according to one survey, nearly half of all public elementary schools and about 80 percent of public high schools operated under pouring rights contracts. It's clear what the schools get for their trouble. It's no wonder that schools turn to selling junky snack food and cutting deals with sugary soda makers to augment stingy school-lunch budgets. As of 2011, we were spending more than twice as much on air conditioning for troops in Afghanistan than we do on feeding public school kids. The soda deals subsidize other aspects of schooling, too. Here's how the Rockford Register Star describes a contract between the Rockford, Illinois school district and Coca-Cola:
But what are they giving up in return? A just-released study by University of Illinois researchers compares the weight gain of kids in states that limit in-school junk food sales with those of kids in states that don't. ..................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/08/schools-limit-campus-junk-food-have-lower-obesity-rates
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)Can you really keep kids off soda? We all grew up with Coke and Pepsi. I think the key here is moderation, parents need to step in and teach their kids a healthy diet.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)pipoman
(16,038 posts)and in the Rockford case it is significant. Without the contracts, the schools would still have soda machines I'm guessing.
jsr
(7,712 posts)a commission for future business derived from these deals. Dialysis centers and funeral homes, too.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Why PepsiCo Is Fighting GMO Labeling in California
By Michele Simon
The Huffington Post, August 9, 2012
Straight to the Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-simon/pepsi-gmo-food_b_1749575.html
For related articles and more information, please visit OCA's Genetic Engineering page, Millions Against Monsanto page, and our California News page.
Most people just think of soda when they hear the name "Pepsi." But in fact, PepsiCo is the nation's largest food company and second largest in the world. Its annual earnings top $60 billion, from a dizzying array of brands. Walk down almost any supermarket aisle (soda, snacks, cereal, juice) and you're likely to bump into a PepsiCo-owned product.
This explains why the company is the top contributor among food makers to the "No on 37" campaign in California -- a ballot initiative that would require labeling of foods containing GMO ingredients. Also, as I wrote about recently, PepsiCo is a member of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, a powerful trade group that has so far contributed $375,000 to the No on 37 campaign.
Why would PepsiCo pony up more than $90,000 just to keep Californians in the dark about what they are eating? A closer look at its "portfolio of products" (in corporate speak) reveals exactly what's at stake for the food giant.
PepsiCo brands span five divisions: Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker. While most consumers probably think of processed snacks and cereal-type products when trying to avoid foods containing GMOs, beverages are also a major culprit (which explains why Coca-Cola has donated more than $61,000 to the No on 37 campaign).
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More: http://www.organicconsumers.org/
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Bandit
(21,475 posts)My business provides school milk to all the schools including Charter schools, and I was informed it is a requirement that they can not allow sales of sugary drinks (Soda Pop, Juices) during school hours. We can not even substitute 2% milk for 1% when we have a shortage. All the kids are allowed is 1% or Non Fat milk and I am fairly certain it is a federal requirement...