Copycat Snacks in Schools by Cara Wilking, J.D
The Public Health PHAI Advocacy Institute MAY 2014 Copycat Snacks in Schools by Cara Wilking, J.D. Introduction The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to set nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools.1 Prior to the HHFKA, the USDA only promulgated rules for items sold outside of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that were of “minimal nutritional value,” such as soda, gum, and candy.2 Starting July 1, 2014, all foods sold outside of the NSLP, such as food from vending machines and school stores, will have to meet USDA “Smart Snacks” nutrition criteria. Not wanting to lose the in-school marketing opportunity, major food companies like PepsiCo are producing reformulated versions of popular junk foods like Cheetos® and Doritos® that meet the Smart Snacks criteria, but use the same brand names, logos and spokescharacters as are used to market traditional junk food. These copycat snacks are not widely available for purchase outside of schools and are clearly designed to co-market traditional junk food to children in school. This issue brief describes copycat snacks, how they undermine nutrition education efforts, and what can be done to stop the sale and marketing of these products in schools. Copycat Snacks Copycat snacks are a vehicle for food companies to co-market their popular unhealthy, junk food brands in schools. Copycat snacks meet USDA Smart Snacks nutrition criteria, but are marketed using brand names, product names, logos, and spokescharacters that are also used to market junk food.
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