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Food Service Policies

Galloway Township Public Schools Food Service Policies: 3542.00 Food Service | 3542.10 Local Wellness/Nutrition | See More Policies

3542.00 FOOD SERVICE

Wellness
The Galloway Township Board of Education believes that children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive, and that good health fosters student attendance and education.

Obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last two decades, and physical inactivity and excessive calorie intake are the predominant causes of obesity. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are responsible for two-thirds of deaths in the United States, and major risk factors for those diseases, including unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, and obesity, often are established in childhood. Further, the items most commonly sold from school vending machines, school stores, and snack bars include low-nutrition foods and beverages, such as soda, sports drinks, imitation fruit juices, chips, candy, cookies, and snack cakes.

Therefore, the board is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity, and will ensure that:

A. All students will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.
B. Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the USDA nutrition standards for National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and/or After School Snack Programs.
C. Qualified child nutrition professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will accommodate the religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.
D. To the maximum extent practicable, all schools in our district will participate in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program).
E. Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services.
F. The board will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.

The chief school administrator shall develop regulations consistent with this policy, including a process for measuring the effectiveness of its implementation, and designating personnel within each school with operational responsibility for ensuring the school is complying with the policy.

NOT LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 2007, ALL DISTRICTS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS OR THAT HAVE FIVE PERCENT OR MORE STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR. REDUCED PRICE MEALS MUST ADOPT A NUTRITION POLICY CONSISTENT WITH THE FOLLOWING MODEL DEVELOPED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Nutrition
The board recognizes that child and adolescent obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States and that poor diet combined with the lack of physical activity negatively impacts on students' health, and their ability and motivation to learn. The board is committed to:

A. Providing students with healthy and nutritious foods;
B. Encouraging the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat milk, and whole grains;
C. Supporting healthy eating through nutrition education;
D. Encouraging students to select and consume all components of the school meal; and
E. Providing students with the opportunity to engage in daily physical activity.

All reimbursable meals shall meet Federal nutrient standards as required by the U. S. Department of Agriculture child Nutrition Program regulations. All items served as part of the After School Snack Program shall meet the standards as outlined within this policy.

The following items may not be served, sold or given out as free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day:

A. Foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) as defined by U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations;
B. All food and beverage items listing sugar, in any form, as the first ingredient; and
C. All forms of candy.

Schools shall reduce the purchase of any products containing trans fats. (Federal labeling of trans fats on all food products is required by January 1, 2006).

All snack and beverage items sold or served anywhere on school property during the school day, including items sold in a la carte lines, vending machines, snack bars, school stores, and fundraisers or served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program, shall meet the following standards:

A. Based on manufacturers nutritional data or nutrient facts labels:
1. No more than eight grams of total fat per serving, with the exception of nuts and seeds.
2. No more than two grams of saturated fat per serving.

B. All beverages shall not exceed 12 ounces, with the following exceptions:
1. Water.
2. Milk containing two percent or less fat.

C. Whole milk shall not exceed eight ounces.

In elementary schools, 100 percent of all beverages offered shall be milk, water, or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.

In middle schools:
A. At least 60 percent of all beverages offered, other than milk and water, shall be 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.
B. No more than 40 percent of all ice cream / frozen desserts shall be allowed to exceed the above standards for sugar, fat, and saturated fat.

Food and beverages served during special school celebrations or during curriculum related activities shall be exempt from this policy, with the exception of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by USDA regulations.

This policy does not apply to: medically authorized special needs diets pursuant to federal regulations; school nurses using FMNVs during the course of providing health care to individual students; or special needs students whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP) indicates their use for behavior modification.

Adequate time shall be allowed for student meal service and consumption. Schools shall provide a pleasant dining environment. The board recommends that physical education or recess be scheduled before lunch whenever possible.

The district's curriculum shall incorporate nutrition education and physical activity consistent with the New Jersey Department of Education Core Curriculum Content Standards.

The board is committed to promoting the nutrition policy with all food service personnel, teachers, nurses, coaches, and other school administrative staff so they have the skills they need to implement this policy and promote healthy eating practices. The board will work toward expanding awareness about this policy among students, parents, teachers, and the community at large.

The chief school administrator shall prepare regulations to implement this policy.

Legal References:
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1 General mandatory powers and duties
N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5 Exceptions to requirement for advertising

See particularly:
N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5a(6)
N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-6 Standards for purchase of fresh milk; penalties; rules and regulations
N.J.S.A. 18A:33-3 through -5 Cafeterias for pupils
N.J.S.A. 18A:54-20 Powers of board (county vocational schools)
N.J.S.A. 18A:58-7.1 through -7.2 School lunch program ...
N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.1 et seq. Child Nutrition Programs
N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.6 Supplies and equipment
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.1 et seq. Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.1 Reporting requirements
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-14.1 Review of mandated programs and services
Manual for the Evaluation of Local School Districts

3542.10 LOCAL WELLNESS/NUTRITION

The board believes that children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive, and that good health fosters student attendance and education.

To promote healthful behavior in the school, the board is committed to encouraging its students to consume fresh fruits, vegetables, lowfat milk and whole grains. The board is also committed to encouraging students to select and consume all components of the school meal.

In order to promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn, the board is committed to providing school environments that support healthy eating and physical activity and will ensure that:

A. All students will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.
B. Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the USDA nutrition standards for National School Lunch, School Breakfast and/or After School Snack Programs. The district will regulate the types of food and beverage items offered outside the federal meal requirements, such as ala carte sales, vending machines, school stores, and fund raisers.
C. All students will be provided with adequate time for student meal service and consumption in a clean, safe, and pleasant dining environment. Lunch and recess or physical education schedules will be coordinated with the meal service.
D. To the maximum extent practicable, all schools in our district will participate in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program including- After-School Snack Programs, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program).
E. Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services.
F. The board will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.

NOT LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 2007 THE DISTRICT WILL IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

All Schools

The following items shall not be served, sold or given out as free promotion anywhere on school property at anytime before the end of the school day:
A. Foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture
B. All food and beverage items listing sugar, in any form as the first ingredient
C. All forms of candy

Schools shall reduce the purchase of any products containing trans fats. All snack and beverage items sold or served anywhere on school property during the school day, including items sold in a la carte lines, vending machines, snack bars, school stores and fundraisers or served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program, shall meet the following standards:

B. All beverages shall not exceed 12 ounces, with the following exceptions:
1. Water.
2. Milk containing two percent or less fat.

C. Whole milk shall not exceed eight ounces.

Elementary Schools

A. 100 percent of all beverages offered shall be milk, water or
B. 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.

Middle and High Schools
A. At least 60 percent of all beverages offered, other than milk and water, shall be 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.
B. No more than 40 percent of all ice cream/frozen desserts shall be allowed to exceed the above standards for sugar, fat, and saturated fat.

General School District Requirements

This policy does not apply to: medically authorized special needs diets pursuant to federal regulations; school nurses using FMNVs during the course of providing health care to individual students; or special needs students who's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) indicates their use for behavior modification.

The district's curriculum shall incorporate nutrition education and physical activity consistent with the New Jersey Department of Education Core Curriculum Content Standards.

The chief school administrator will specifically address the issue of biosecurity for the school food service. Biosecurity may be part of the plans, procedures and mechanism for school safety.

The board is committed to promoting the nutrition policy with all food service personnel, teachers, nurses, coaches and other school administrative staff so they have the skills they need to implement this policy and promote healthy eating practices. The board will work toward expanding awareness about this policy among students, parents, teachers and the community at large.

LEGAL REFERENCES
Mandated:
P.L. 108-265, The Federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Section 204 requires that, each local education agency (LEA) receiving federal funding for child nutrition programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) must adopt a local school wellness policy. At a minimum the school wellness policy must have the following elements:

1. Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness;
2. Nutrition guidelines selected by the LEA for all foods available on each school campus during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity;
3. Assurances that guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) under subsections (a) and (b) of section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. 1779) and sections 9(f)(1) and 17(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(f)(1), 1766(a));
4. Ways of measuring how effectively the school wellness policy is being implemented, including designation of one or more persons at each school with operational responsibility for ensuring that the school is meeting the policy; and
5. Involvement of parents, students, food service professionals and the public, in developing the wellness policy.

N.J.S.A. 18A:33-15 through 19 also known as P.L. 2007, c.45 (S1218), 2/21/07 regulates food and beverage items sold, served, and given away on school property. The standards in this statute are identical to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.7. The authority to promulgate rules and monitor compliance pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act" P.L. 1968, c.410 (C 52:14B-1 et seq.) is given to the Secretary of Agriculture.

N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.1 et seq. establish two separate local school nutrition policy requirements and implementation dates. These requirements apply to public and non-public schools that participate in any of the federally funded child nutrition programs, and for any other non-participating public schools that have 5 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced price meals.

N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.7 directs local districts to adopt a policy that conforms to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA nutrition standards for National School Lunch, School Breakfast and/or After School Snack programs as required by 7 C.F.R. Parts 210, 215, 220 and 245. This state code provision regulates the types of food items offered outside the Federal meal requirements, such as a la carte sales, vending machines, school stores and fundraisers. It is further required that, districts participating in federally funded child nutrition programs must have a policy consistent with the NJDOA Model School Nutrition Policy.

N.J.A.C. 2:36-1, Appendix, Model School Nutrition Policy, requires schools to provide adequate time for student meal service and consumption and a “pleasant dining environment". It recommends a coordination of lunch and recess or physical education schedules.

N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.7(f ) make the standards set forth in the regulation a minimum standard and does not preclude the adoption of a more stringent policy by a school district.

Resources:
http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Model Policy and Question and Answer resource.
www.usda.gov/cnpp/DietGd.pdf Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
www.usda.gov/cnpp/pyramid.html USDA Food Guide for dietary Guidelines, examples of eating patterns that exemplify these standards.
www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools/fithealthy.mgi Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn, A School Health Policy Guide. This Guide lists elements such as the size of tables and chairs; seating is not overcrowded; a relaxed environment for socializing; amount of noise; rules of safe behavior, and cleanliness.
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/menu/fmnv foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV's ) as defined by federal regulations at 7 C.F.R. Part 210.10.

Recommendation:
A policy addressing federal and state local wellness and nutrition requirements.

While the school district has the option to enforce stricter rules, the regulations do not apply to foods sold as fundraisers outside of the school day and the school property, nor does it apply to the types of foods that may be allowed to be brought in from the student's home, or food that may be available in teachers' lounges.

The NJDOA has also exempted food and/or beverage items served during school celebrations (e.g. pep rallies) and curriculum related activities from the rules, except for foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV's).

The NJDOA advised that their authority is limited to those food items either provided by the school district for student consumption on school property or made available to students through vending machines, school stores and fundraising activities during the school day.

Legal References:
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1 General mandatory powers and duties
N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.1 f.,h. Use of competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding; boards of education

See particularly:
N.J.S.A. 18A:33-10
N.J.S.A. 18A:33-15 Improved Nutrition and Activity Act (IMPACT Act) through -19
N.J.S.A. 18A:54-20 Powers of board (county vocational schools)
N.J.S.A. 18A:58-7.1 through -7.2 School lunch program ...
N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.1 et seq. Child Nutrition Programs

See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 2:36-1.7 Local school nutrition policy
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.1(b) School safety plans
N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.6 Supplies and equipment
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.1 et seq. Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.1 Reporting requirements
N.J.A.C. 6A:32--14.1 Review of mandated programs and services
Sec. 204 at the Federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-265)
42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq. Child Nutrition Act of 1966
7 C.F.R. Part 210 Medically authorized special needs diets
7 C.F.R. art 210.10 Foods of minimum nutritional value

Possible Cross References:
*1200 Participation by the public
*1220 Ad hoc advisory committees
*3000/3010 Concepts and roles in business and noninstructional operations; goals and objectives
*3220/3230 State funds; federal funds
*3450 Money in school buildings
*3510 Operation and maintenance of plant
*3542 Food Service
*3542.31 Free or reduced-price lunches/milk
*3542.44 Purchasing
*4222 Noninstructional aides
*5131 Conduct/discipline
9123 Appointment of board secretary
9124 Appointment of business official

*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY NEW POLICY 4/10