Wide availability of high-calorie beverages in US Elementary Schools

Objective: To examine the availability of beverages for sale in elementary schools. Design: Nationally representative mail-back survey. Setting: US public and private elementary schools during the 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 school years. Participants: Survey respondents at elementary schools. Main Outcome Measure: Availability of beverages offered in competitive venues and school lunches. Results: Public elementary school students' access to beverages for sale in any competitive venue on campus (vending machines, stores, snack bars, and/or à la carte) increased from 49.0% in 2006-2007 to 61.3% in 2008-2009 (P<.01). The percentage of public school students with access to only beverages allowed by the Institute of Medicine guidelines for competitive beverages (ie, water, 100% juice, and 1% or nonfat milk) increased from 10.0% to 16.1% (P<.01). Access to higher-fat milk (2% or whole milk) in school lunches decreased from 77.9% of public school students in 2006-2007 to 68.3% in 2008-2009 (P<.001). Flavored milk was available at lunch on most days for 92.1% of public school students. Conclusions: As of the 2008-2009 school year, highcalorie beverages and beverages not allowed by national guidelines were still widely available in elementary schools.