In a 2004 study requested by Congress, the IOM determined that food marketing industry influences children and adolescents to opt for high-calorie and nutrient poor foods and beverages. New research has found that the US government and schools attempt to improve our youth’s diet may be doing just as much bad as good, according to the March issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
In December 2005, an expert IOM committee issued a report with 10 recommendations to guide public- and private-sector stakeholders to promote healthy eating in children and adolescents. A comprehensive literature review was conducted and evaluated, funded by Healthy Eating Research. Healthy Eating research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The evaluation showed that extensive progress was not made by any public-sector group.
The best news seemed to come from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), educational leaders, and state and local schools. They collectively made moderate progress toward developing nutritional standards for foods and beverages sold in school, and adopted model school wellness policies and practices to expand the availability of healthy foods and beverages, as called for in the IOM food marketing report.
Congress could also support the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to cover all food and beverage products marketed to children through the 2010 Menu-Labeling Law (as candy companies and movie theaters are exempt).
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