03/05/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2004
 
Media contacts (all at the American Dietetic Association):
Lori Ferme, Tom Ryan, 800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894
Ronald Smith, 800/877-0877
media@eatright.org
(Please do not publish these numbers)
 
CHICAGO - The federal Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act, introduced this week in Congress, could be instrumental in helping America’s children develop lifelong healthy eating and physical activity habits, according to the experts at the American Dietetic Association, the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

ADA has written to four of the bill’s primary authors, commending them for their work in making “significant improvements” to the legislation, which would revise and update the government’s extensive child nutrition programs. The legislation is being considered by the House Education and Workforce Committee, chaired by co-sponsor John Boehner (R.-Ohio), and the House Education Reform Subcommittee, chaired by Mike Castle (R.-Del.)

“The Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act - if fully funded and implemented - could provide American children with better nutrition education, food and exercise options and an overall more supportive environment that will help them develop healthy eating and activity patterns for life,” said registered dietitian and ADA President Marianne Smith Edge.

“We are especially pleased that the bill places an emphasis on nutrition and healthy school environments by requiring districts to adopt and implement local wellness policies,” Edge said. “ADA believes it will be critical to involve qualified nutrition professionals in making decisions on these policies.”

The legislation authorizes development of a new initiative called the Team Nutrition Network, which would build on the government’s current Team Nutrition program by funding state-level coordinators and local nutrition education initiatives. “Working as part of the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity, ADA developed the concept of the Team Nutrition Network and we encourage Congress to fully fund this measure in order to allow all states to participate,” Edge said.

Through the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act, “Congress has the potential to address some of the most vexing health issues facing the American public,” Edge said.