Tuesday, April 22, 2014

We Need 1,000 People to Stand Up to the Food Industry. Will You?

PreventObesity.net
Hi,

We only have 7 days to tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture that we support its
proposal to remove junk food marketing from schools.

What are you waiting for? Take action now.

Schools are entrusted with keeping our kids safe and healthy. That’s why the
USDA’s plan to remove the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks in schools
is so important. It will help create school environments that support student health,
instead of undermining parents who are trying to instill healthy habits in their kids.

This is an historic moment for every school in the nation. If put into place, the
guidelines will make sure food marketers no longer promote junk food such as
candy, potato chips or sugary sodas in schools. Our new, strong nutritional
guidelines for school meals, snacks and drinks ensure schools can’t sell these
products. Schools shouldn't advertise them either.

But it’s not guaranteed that the USDA will implement the proposal. I'm worried that
food and beverage companies will pressure the agency to make the final guidelines
weak so they can continue to market unhealthy foods in schools. We are telling the
USDA to stand strong and put kids’ health first.

Join us and raise your voice in support!

Already, more than 39,000 people have written to the USDA to say how important
it is to keep junk food marketing out of schools. I know that together, we can reach
40,000, making sure USDA knows that we want this proposal put into place!

Take action now.

Thanks,
Lori Dorfman

Lori Dorfman
Director, Berkeley Media Studies Group
Co-convener, Food Marketing Workgroup