Nutrition Standards in Oregon Schools
Nutrition Standards in Oregon Schools (HB 2650)
Because kids spend so much time in school, it makes sense to change the school environment to make “the healthy choice the easy choice.” Many schools have historically sold food and beverages that are not part of the National School Lunch Programs, and OPHI and other nutrition advocates have worked to change this situation. Bills to set nutrition standards on competitive foods, e.g. foods sold outside the National School Meals Program, were introduced to the Oregon Legislature in 2003 and 2005 but did not pass. The Oregon Nutrition Policy Alliance, led by OPHI and in partnership with the Oregon Nurses Association, the American Diabetes Association and Stand for Children, launched a successful campaign in 2007 to pass House Bill 2650: Healthy Schools for Healthy Students.
In June 2007 Governor Ted Kulongoski signed HB 2650 into law. The new law sets nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold outside the National School Meals Program in ALL school locations during regular and extended day. It sets age appropriate portion sizes and calorie, fat and sugar limits for snacks and beverages. The law went into full effect July 1, 2009.
This concept has been added to the Federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization; Oregon’s law helped to make this possible.
Information and Tools for Implementing HB 2650
OHPI has developed a tool that can be used to determine whether a particular snack meets the new standards for Oregon’s public elementary, middle and high schools. See below to see the documents and tools that are currently available.
To view the law in its entirety click here