Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments to the committee on the issue of competitive foods in schools. I am the executive director for Child Nutrition Programs in Newport News. We have 29,000 students, approximately 61% qualifying for free and reduced price meals. School nutrition has always had at its core the mission of providing healthy meals to students, and research continues to support that school meals are healthier than meals brought from home, and that students who eat school meals have healthier weights than those who do not.

There is a business side to school nutrition as well that must be recognized. Our programs are expected to be self-sustaining, receiving no school board operating funds. We earn our way, paying for salaries, benefits, food, supplies, etc. I also pay indirect costs to support the general operating funds.

Currently, the federal competitive foods regulations are set to be implemented in July 2014. These rules mandate nutrition requirements of competitive foods and beverages for calories, fat and saturated fat, sugar and sodium and portion sizes. There are also local wellness policies as mandated since 2006, that cover competitive food sales in schools. If Virginia implements separate standards, our programs will potentially be regulated by 3 sets of standards for the same food and beverage items! Imagine running a business in this manner. This will drive up our food costs as manufacturers will have to make different products that meet Virginia’s standards and no other states. I support the School Nutrition Association of Virginia's position that federal competitive foods regulations should govern school nutrition programs. Separate state standards are not needed. Thank you for this opportunity.