As required by the RULES GOVERNING NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS IN ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Section 6.0, the Arkansas Child Health Advisory Committee (ACHAC) has made changes to the previously approved “Allowable Competitive Foods/Beverages and Maximum Portion Size List.” Please see revised Attachment A, SY2007-08 Allowable Competitive Foods/Beverages - Maximum Portion Size List.
The two most significant changes to the List are: 1) the provision that the portion size of water is unlimited and 2) the increase of the maximum portion size of milk from 12 ounces to 16 ounces. ACHAC increased the portion size of milk based on current research that indicates the general student population lacks sufficient dietary intake of calcium.
Current regulations give authority to ACHAC to make changes to the list of maximum portion size restrictions and nutrition standards each year. Please note that with the current changes, the Maximum Portion Size List does not agree with Section 6.02.3 of the Rules Governing Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards with regard to limiting all beverages to 12 ounces.
For additional information, see Attachment B, Rules Governing Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards, Section 6.0.
No other changes have been made to state nutrition standards that affect those outlined in Attachment C, Commissioner’s Memo FIN-06-016, “Nutrition Standards and Allowable Foods/Beverages with Maximum Portion Size Restrictions.” This Memo addresses a la carte standards, compliance monitoring, healthy vending options and off-campus fund raising.
The Arkansas Child Health Advisory Committee will continue to evaluate portion sizes of competitive foods and beverages, and will issue further guidance by April 1, 2008, for the 2008-2009 School Year as required by the above-cited rules.