SR0036 LRB094 04040 RAS 34057 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has shown
3 that consumption of soft drinks has increased by 500% over the
4 past 50 years, and Americans consume more than 53 gallons of
5 carbonated soft drinks per person per year; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Studies have consistently shown that frequent
7 consumption of carbonated beverages with added sweeteners
8 increases the risk of dental caries, enamel erosion, and
9 obesity; and
 
10     WHEREAS, An extra soft drink a day gives a child a 60%
11 greater chance of becoming obese; and
 
12      WHEREAS, Creating a captive audience among students for
13 commercial marketing purposes and exclusive brand loyalty
14 violates both the spirit of competition and public trust in
15 schools; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Low-income children receive most of their fruits
17 and vegetables from school meal programs, but the great
18 availability of soft drinks and junk foods undermines school
19 meal programs and contributes to the diminished health of
20 low-income children; and
 
21     WHEREAS, The combined situation of increasing financial
22 pressures on schools along with private contracts providing
23 financial benefits and opportunities for schools has created an
24 inviting atmosphere for exclusive vending contracts; and
 
25     WHEREAS, Schools play a significant role in nutrition
26 education, not only because children eat many of their meals at
27 school, but also because schools educate students concerning
28 appropriate nutritional decisions and are viewed by students as
29 an authority, setting examples that will last a lifetime; and
 

 

 

SR0036 - 2 - LRB094 04040 RAS 34057 r

1     WHEREAS, Pursuant to House Resolution 147 of the 93rd
2 General Assembly, the Department of Public Health, in
3 conjunction with the State Board of Education, has conducted a
4 sugar consumption study to determine the effect of sugar
5 consumption on the overall health of school children; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Many studies exist that substantially document
7 that increases in sugar consumption in children's and
8 adolescents' diets have an adverse effect on overall health,
9 and given the multitude of clinical studies it would be
10 repetitive to conduct additional studies in Illinois on sugar's
11 impact on children's health; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
13 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the State Board
14 of Education, the soft drink industry, and the Illinois
15 Statewide School Management Alliance to eliminate soft drink
16 beverage sales and junk food products from school settings; and
17 be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That schools substitute these sugar-laden
19 products with healthy drinks and products, such as fruit juices
20 that are composed of no less than 50% fruit juice and that have
21 no added sweeteners, bottled water, milk, including without
22 limitation chocolate milk, soymilk, rice milk, and other
23 similar dairy or non-dairy milk, and electrolyte replacement
24 beverages that do not contain more than 42 grams of added
25 sweetener per 20-ounce serving; and be it further
 
26     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
27 delivered to the soft drink industry, the State Board of
28 Education, and the Illinois Statewide School Management
29 Alliance.