2007年VOA标准英语-New Report Recommends Changes for Food Sold in

By Carol Pearson
Washington, D.C.
30 April 2007
 

A new report -- commissioned by the U.S. Congress -- recommends strong nutritional¹ guidelines for the food that is sold in the nation's schools.  Existing federal standards apply only to food served in school cafeterias. This report takes aim at food sold in school vending² machines and at snack bars. VOA's Carol Pearson has the story.

A U.S. government report wants to ban snack foods lacking in nutritional value from schools

The U.S. National Institutes of Health describes childhood obesity³ as "epidemic⁴ in the United States."  Currently one American child in five is overweight. To combat obesity, the U.S. Institute of Medicine put out a new report that recommends banning sodas⁵, candy and high-fat foods like potato chips from school vending machines and snack bars. Congress commissioned the report.

Dr. Virginia Stallings, a pediatrician, chaired the committee that produced it. "Our society can really enrich the lives of students by doing this," she says.

Dr. Stallings says children get a substantial portion of their daily calories at school, so schools have an obligation to contribute to students' health. The report recommends replacing foods high in fat, sugar and salt with water, low fat milk, fruit juices, fruits and vegetables.  It also recommends that snacks contain at least one serving of fruit, vegetables, whole grain or dairy products.

A not-for-profit consumer organization, Center for Science in the Public Interest, says the proposed new standards for snacks are far better than what are available now.  Spokeswoman Margo Wootan says, "They are light years away from the current nutritional standards that are in place in schools."

The committee recommends that schools follow the same guidelines in providing healthful food at school parties and other school activities.

But a food industry representative challenges the idea that such changes will impact childhood obesity. Rick Berman is with the Center for Consumer Freedom. "They still totally ignore the elephant in the living room, which is how much exercise and physical activity you are enjoying."

Profits from vending machine sales may become slimmer. After schools in Washington, D.C., adopted a healthy snack policy, vending machine revenue dropped. Schools often get a portion of vending machine sales.

But report co-author Rosemary Dederichs, says healthy can also be tasty, and that it is up to the food industry to create tasty, healthful snacks. "I'm sure that the industry's going to get very, very creative and come up with some wonderful products."

The committee's recommendations cannot be enforced unless they are written into law.  But bills are in Congress that would require nutritional standards for all food sold in schools, not just in cafeterias.

1 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

2 vending   

v.出售（尤指土地等财产）( vend的现在分词 )；（尤指在公共场所）贩卖；发表（意见，言论）；声明

参考例句：

• Why Are You Banging on the Vending Machine? 你为什么敲打这台自动售货机？ 来自朗文快捷英语教程 2
• Coca-Cola had to adapt almost 300,000 vending machines to accept the new coins. 可口可乐公司必须使将近三十万台自动贩卖机接受新货币。 来自超越目标英语 第5册

3 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

4 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

5 sodas   

n.苏打( soda的名词复数 )；碱；苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• There are plenty of sodas in the refrigerator. 冰箱里有很多碳酸饮料。 来自辞典例句
• Two whisky and sodas, please. 请来两杯威士忌苏打。 来自辞典例句