Cons of Soda Vending Machines in Schools
Soda drinks, also known as soft or fizzy drinks, are non-alcoholic beverages that contain carbonated water and flavoring agents. Popular soft drinks include Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Vending machines selling carbonated drinks appear in many public places, including airports, movie theaters, shopping malls and schools. In schools, however, soft-drink vending machines have become a source of controversy due to the unhealthy nature of many sodas and its negative effects on children.
-
Dental Problems
-
Drinking sugar-laden carbonated soft drinks causes dental cavities in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). As vending machines allow children to easily purchase and drink soda, many people argue that vending machines should stop operating in schools or at least be turned off during lunch time.
Excessive Calories
-
A survey of 1,420 vending machines in 251 schools by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has found that 75 percent of the drinks sold in vending machines in middle schools and high schools in the United States have poor nutritional value, which contributes to excess calories in children's diets and resulting obesity. CSPI also reports that obesity rates in America have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents from 1984 to 2004.
-
Displace Healthy Drinks
-
Soda vending machines are more attractive to children than are school cafeterias, which feature healthier beverages, and vending machines that sell water, 100 percent fruit juice or iced tea. In addition, if most children buy unhealthy drinks, it puts pressure on their peers to do likewise, and kids that would otherwise drink something else end up consuming carbonated soft drinks.
Lack of Regulation
-
As of February 2011, vending machines in schools were not regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a regulatory body that can enforce the operators of vending machines to offer a healthier menu. Still, there is a bill, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which has not moved out of the House, that would put school vending machines under the supervision of the USDA. The bill was passed by the Senate in August, 2010, and is a part of first lady Michele Obama's Let's Move initiative to combat obesity.
-
References
- Photo Credit cola image by Melissa Schalke from Fotolia.com
