The soda and candy industry folks are using every argument possible to diffuse a bill that puts kids first.

H2544, sponsored by Rep. Mark Anderson, R-18, is the first nutrition bill in Arizona history to attempt to clean junk food out of schools. It is not attempting to be a cure-all for nutrition issues at schools, nor is it a matter of disregard for local control. It is merely one step in the right direction so parents’ rights can be protected.

The soda and candy industry doesn’t appear to know what local control means, nor do they care. They will promote whatever they can to protect their bottom line — profit. Without soda pop sales in schools, they will be losing their most profitable item. A 24-ounce bottle of sugared soda sold in schools cost students on average a dollar to purchase, and it costs less than one penny to make it. Yes, this bill would still allow these same companies to sell their products to students — they just need to be healthy. Yet, selling these alternative, lower profit products is not important to them. The overall health and well being of children is not their priority; making thousands of dollars at the expense of kids’ health is.

Numerous parents have attempted to address this issue locally, only to be shot down. The issue of vending machine content is receiving a horrendous amount of overbearing pressure from the beverage industry at the state level; just imagine the same thing occurring locally!

The soda representatives are pleading with legislators to oppose this bill and let them keep selling their profitable soda to kids in schools. They claim there’s nothing wrong with kids having soda – it’s just a fun beverage with bubbles for kids. Let’s look at the facts. Soda pop is pure sugar, caffeine and an element known as phosphorus. Simply put — it contains no nutrients, no vitamins, just calories — and phosphorus to strip calcium from kids’ bones making them brittle, and at risk for developing osteoporosis. Any nutrition professional will tell you that providing a child with a 100 per cent fruit juice is a healthier option than providing them with soda pop — not based on total caloric content, but based on the nutritional value — vitamins and minerals, and nothing harmful.

Don’t be fooled by the industry’s charismatic plea for bubbles, and local control. It’s about the health and well-being of kids. It’s about reducing health care costs now and for years to come. It’s about parental rights. H2544 puts the welfare of all Arizona children over the profits of industry. Schools and industry will still make just as much money by selling healthy foods to kids. Parents please call your legislator and ask them for their support for H2544. Remind them, it’s about the kids!

The Arizona Action for Healthy Kids supports this legislation. We are a coalition of parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, and many other stakeholders dedicated to improving the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in schools. This effort represents a response to our nation’s epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished children and adolescents. Healthy schools produce healthy students — and healthy students are better able to learn and achieve their true potential. —

Paul Mittman is president of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine of Tempe.