SR0036 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0036 LRB094 04040 RAS 34057 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has shown that consumption of soft drinks has increased by 500% over the past 50 years, and Americans consume more than 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks per person per year; and

WHEREAS, Studies have consistently shown that frequent consumption of carbonated beverages with added sweeteners increases the risk of dental caries, enamel erosion, and obesity; and

WHEREAS, An extra soft drink a day gives a child a 60% greater chance of becoming obese; and

WHEREAS, Creating a captive audience among students for commercial marketing purposes and exclusive brand loyalty violates both the spirit of competition and public trust in schools; and

WHEREAS, Low-income children receive most of their fruits and vegetables from school meal programs, but the great availability of soft drinks and junk foods undermines school meal programs and contributes to the diminished health of low-income children; and

WHEREAS, The combined situation of increasing financial pressures on schools along with private contracts providing financial benefits and opportunities for schools has created an inviting atmosphere for exclusive vending contracts; and

WHEREAS, Schools play a significant role in nutrition education, not only because children eat many of their meals at school, but also because schools educate students concerning appropriate nutritional decisions and are viewed by students as an authority, setting examples that will last a lifetime; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to House Resolution 147 of the 93rd General Assembly, the Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, has conducted a sugar consumption study to determine the effect of sugar consumption on the overall health of school children; and

WHEREAS, Many studies exist that substantially document that increases in sugar consumption in children's and adolescents' diets have an adverse effect on overall health, and given the multitude of clinical studies it would be repetitive to conduct additional studies in Illinois on sugar's impact on children's health; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the State Board of Education, the soft drink industry, and the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance to eliminate soft drink beverage sales and junk food products from school settings; and be it further

RESOLVED, That schools substitute these sugar-laden products with healthy drinks and products, such as fruit juices that are composed of no less than 50% fruit juice and that have no added sweeteners, bottled water, milk, including without limitation chocolate milk, soymilk, rice milk, and other similar dairy or non-dairy milk, and electrolyte replacement beverages that do not contain more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the soft drink industry, the State Board of Education, and the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance.