Model Statute Limiting Food Marketing at Schools

Marketing unhealthy foods at schools conflicts with schools’ efforts to promote healthy environments and educate students on proper nutrition. Such marketing also undermines parents’ efforts to encourage healthy eating.

As a result, all local school wellness policies must limit unhealthy food and beverage marketing on campus. At a minimum, all districts participating in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program must prohibit on-campus marketing of foods and beverages that fail to meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. As discussed in the model statute, adopting a state-level law or rule has many important advantages.

ChangeLab Solutions developed the Model Statute Limiting Food Marketing at Schools to prohibit the advertising of foods or beverages that may not be sold on campus during the school day. The language in the model statute can be tailored to the needs of a particular state. While the model is designed for state legislators to adopt as a statute, it could also be adopted and enacted as a rule by a state board of education.