• Oil, Natural Gas, and Electric Deregulation



• Stopping the Nuclear Relapse



• Interactive Map of Proposed New Reactors



• The Case Against Nuclear Power



• The Case for Renewables and Efficiency



• Energy Legislation



• Press Room



• Congressional Voting Records



• Take Action!

Seattle School District Adopts Comprehensive Nutrition Policy

Directs Schools to buy organic, non-GMO, and non-irradiated foods

The Seattle School District unanimously passed a comprehensive bill designed to give students healthy beverage and food choices during the day. The new policy will ban foods high in sugar and fat, improve the quality of school meal programs, and prohibit exclusive “pouring contracts” with beverage companies, such as they currently have with Coca-cola. Particularly impressive is the new requirement for school food and beverages to be “fresh, locally grown or produced, certified organic, unprocessed, non-GMO and non-irradiated… when feasible and cost-effective.” As non-irradiated foods are cheaper than irradiated foods and widely available, it seems highly unlikely that they will be served in the Seattle School District.  Schools are also directed to buy foods that do not contain preservatives or additives when feasible and cost-effective. “Many students will reap a lifetime of benefits,” observes the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; indeed, this school lunch bill is amongst the strongest in the nation for promoting health.

In the wake of health research that links sugar to diabetes, details the skyrocketing rates of childhood diabetes and obesity, and points to other serious health concerns with American children, many communities are reexamining their school nutrition policies. School Board Vice-President Brita Butler-Wall and Shelley Curtis, Nutrition Director for the Children’s Alliance, both led the successful effort to revamp Seattle’s weak school nutrition policies. As Butler-Wall notes, “We are committed to providing an environment at each school that maximizes students’ ability to learn and succeed. That includes ensuring that foods and beverages sold at schools are healthy and nutritious.”

Click HERE to see the entire Seattle policy.

more resources

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.