Policy on Snacks and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Sold in Schools

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

encourages collaboration with other dental and medical organizations, governmental agencies, education officials, parent and consumer groups, and corporations to increase public awareness of the adverse effects of frequent and/or inappropriate intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and low nutrient-dense snack foods on children’s oral health and general health.
promotes educating and informing the public regarding the importance of good nutritional habits as they pertain to consumption of items available in vending machines.
encourages school officials and parent groups to consider the importance of maintaining healthy choices in vending machines in schools and encourages the promotion of food and beverages of high nutritional value; bottled water and other healthy choices should be available instead of soft drinks.
opposes any arrangements that may decrease access to healthy nutritional choices for children and adolescents in schools.
support the USDA Food and Nutrition Service nutrition standards that prompts school districts to offer healthier food and beverages in vending machines, school stores, and à la carte cafeteria lines.
recommends school nutrition policies align with the World Health Organization guidance on free sugar intake, prohibit provision of SSB to children under age 2, and reflect consensus recommendations that children/adolescents avoid SSB, limit added sugars to fewer than 25 grams per day, and restrict SSB to no more than 8 fluid ounces per week.