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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    Thursday, May 24, 2007

ARIZONA SCHOOLS CHIEF TOM HORNE ANNOUNCES VOLUNTARY

    NUTRITION STANDARDS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS

    PHOENIX (Thursday, May 24, 2007) – Arizona Schools Chief Tom Horne today released Voluntary Arizona Nutrition Standards for high schools. The legislature has adopted

    nutrition standards for grades K-8, but, despite repeated efforts by the Department of Education

    and others concerned with student nutrition, has declined to adopt the standards for high school

    students.

    Some high schools and unified districts, such as Phoenix Union and Scottsdale, have

    already voluntarily adopted nutrition standards. The Department of Education is attempting to

    accelerate this process, by releasing uniform voluntary standards, and urging parents over the

    summer to request their school boards to adopt the voluntary standards for high schools.

    Horne stated: “When I first took office in 2003, I proposed nutrition standards. Schools

    resisted, arguing that they were making money by selling soda and candy. I felt that there were

    better ways for schools to make money than pushing sugar and saturated fat on kids. After I

    calmed down, I agreed to institute a pilot study to prove that schools could make just as much

    money selling healthy foods such as low-fat milk, fruit juice, water, granola bars, and low-fat

    yogurt.”

    Horne added: “Obesity and diabetes has become a wide-spread problem among students.

    Many do not realize that every can of sugared soda has ten teaspoons of sugar. Students must be

    more physically active, and develop healthy eating habits, in order to be academically successful,

    and develop healthy habits for life.”

    The standards can be viewed at www.azed.gov, click on A-Z Service and then Nutrition Standards, Arizona.

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