Over the last four decades, rates of obesity have more than quadrupled among U.S children and more than tripled among adolescents. Today, more than 23.5 million kids are overweight or obese placing them at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious chronic diseases. With recent studies showing that kids consume up to half of their total daily calories at school, the food and beverages sold at school has a big impact on children’s diets.
The Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, a collaboration between The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides nonpartisan analysis and evidence-based recommendations to make sure that all foods and beverages sold in U.S. schools are safe and healthful. The project is working to ensure:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) adopts science-based nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages served and sold in schools;
- Schools have the resources they need to train cafeteria employees and replace outdated and broken kitchen equipment; and
- USDA develops and implements rigorous school food safety policies.
Meet the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods project director Jessica Donze Black
About The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life. We partner with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share our commitment to fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society. For more information, visit www.pewtrusts.org.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. In 2007, the Foundation committed $500 million toward its goal of reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. This is the largest commitment any foundation has made to the issue.
For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
General Contact:
Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project
The Pew Charitable Trusts
901 E St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20004
Media Contact:
Nicolle Grayson, Communications Manager
(202) 540-6347
Email
Michelle Cardoso, Communications Associate
(202) 540-6816
Email
