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Amphitheater Public Schools
Arizona State Nutritional Standards and
Food Safety Information
Last year, the Arizona Department of Education adopted Nutritional Standards for all Arizona public schools, as required by the Arizona Legislature. The Nutritional Standards are effective this school year (2006-2007) for elementary schools. Next year (2007-2008), the standards will become effective for middle and high schools.
The Amphitheater Governing Board, as required by law, has adopted a Wellness Policy that incorporates these nutritional standards for affected schools in the District. Specific provisions of the Wellness Policy are shown on the reverse side of this notice. Those provisions describe such details as caloric and content limitations for all food sold to students or provided to students. These provisions apply at all times during the school day and for the half hours preceding and following school. Some of the most important provisions of the Wellness Policy and Nutritional Standards to be aware of are as follows:
· All foods sold to students must meet the nutritional standards.
· No Soft Drinks (soda) may be sold to students at school.
· Fruit based drinks of less than 100% juice or which are sweetened are also prohibited (ex: Sports drinks, slushes, lemonade).
· No candy may be sold to students during the school day.
· Fundraising sales of non-compliant foods or drinks may occur at any time off campus or on campus one half hour before or one half hour after school. (Ex: a school carnival which begins at 6:00 p.m. is still permitted to sell non-compliant foods and beverages).
· Foods brought from home in a “sack lunch” are not subject to the limitations in the policy or Standards but cannot be shared with other students.
· Foods brought from home for purposes of classroom parties (birthdays, holidays, celebrations) are exempted from compliance with nutritional standards, but must meet food safety requirements (see below.
· Imposition of exercise as a form of discipline is prohibited.
· Schools are required to provide nutrition information and education to students.
Food Safety Provisions
In addition to the Nutritional Standards, the District has adopted a new policy on food safety. Food related illnesses and allergic reactions to food ingredients pose a serious risk to student safety. This risk is typically due to situations where food ingredients are unknown or where appropriate food preparation conditions cannot be assured. Consequently, effective for all schools, K-12, only prepackaged foods with ingredient listing labels may be brought from home for consumption by students.
For example, if you wish to bring in treats for your child’s birthday or for a winter holiday classroom party, the treats must be store bought and include a list of ingredients. Ethnic foods brought to class, perhaps related to a geography lesson or a cultural celebration, must also either be store bought and include a list of ingredients or they must be prepared in a health department approved facility and include a list of ingredients.
For more information, please visit:
www.ade.az.gov/health-safety/cnp/HB2544/ArizonaNutritionStandards.pdf
Wellness Policy Provisions
Elementary School Nutritional Requirements
At each elementary school (grades one through five/six), the sale of all foods on school grounds shall comply with the Arizona nutrition standards by the person designated by the Superintendent.
At each elementary school, the only food that may be sold to a pupil during breakfast and lunch periods is food that is sold as a full meal. This does not prohibit the sale of fruit, nonfried vegetables, legumes, beverages, dairy products, or grain products as individual food items if they meet the requirements set forth below.
An individual food item sold to a pupil during morning or afternoon breaks at an elementary school shall meet all of the following standards:
· Not more than 35 percent of its total calories shall be from fat. This does not apply to the sale of nuts or seeds.
· Not more than 10 percent of its total calories shall be from saturated fat.
· Not more than 35 percent of its total weight shall be composed of sugar. This does not apply to the sale of fruits or vegetables.
· Not more than 400 calories per individual food item.
· Pre-packaged items shall be offered in their original packaging.
Elementary School After-School and Off Campus Fund Raisers
An elementary school may permit the sale of food items that do not comply with the above requirements as part of a school fundraising event in any of the following circumstances:
· The items are sold by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place off of school premises.
· The items are sold by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place at least one-half hour after the end of the school day.
No Soft Drinks at an Elementary School
Regardless of the time of day, only the following beverages may be sold to a pupil at an elementary school:
· Fruit-based drinks that are composed of no less than 100 percent fruit juice and have no added sweetener.
· Vegetable-based drinks that are composed of no less than 100 percent vegetable juice and have no added sweetener.
· Drinking water with no added sweetener.
· Fat-free milk, one-percent-fat milk, two-percent-fat milk, soy milk, rice milk, and other similar nondairy milk.
An elementary school may permit the sale of beverages that do not comply with the above paragraph as part of a school fundraising event in any of the following circumstances:
· The items are sold by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place off and away from the premises of the school.
· The items are sold by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place one-half hour or more after the end of the school day.
No Soft Drinks at a Middle School
From one-half hour before the start of the school day to one-half hour after the end of the school day, only the following beverages may be sold to a pupil at a middle or junior high school:
· Fruit-based drinks that are composed of no less than 50 percent fruit juice and have no added sweetener.
· Vegetable-based drinks that are composed of no less than 50 percent vegetable juice and have no added sweetener.
· Drinking water with no added sweetener.
· Fat-free milk, one-percent-fat milk, two-percent-fat milk, soy milk, rice milk, and other similar nondairy milk.
This policy does not prohibit a middle school from making available through a vending machine any beverage allowed under this policy at any time of day, or, any other product if the product only is available not later than one-half hour before the start of the lunch period and not sooner than one-half hour after the end of the lunch period.
A middle or junior high school may permit the sale of beverages that do not comply with the above paragraph as part of a school event if the sale of those items meets all of the following criteria:
· The sale occurs during a school-sponsored event and takes place at the location of that event at least one-half hour after the end of the school day.
· Vending machines, pupil stores, and cafeterias are used later than one-half hour after the end of the school day.
Exceptions and Variations Allowed in Meals
The following exceptions and variations are allowed:
· Exceptions for medical or special dietary needs.
· Variations for ethnic, religious, or economic reasons.
· Exceptions for natural disasters.
Requirements for Offering Milk
Schools shall offer students fluid milk. All milk served must be pasteurized fluid milk which meets State and local standards.
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