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[Lisa_Sharon_Wales]

Welcome to Junk Food News. We are commited to presenting the latest updates on the latest happenings in the world of junk food. Whether there's a new flavor of Fritos on the market, or whether a giant ice cream statue is being built in Central Park, we're on the scene.

Latest news:

Junk Food More Available in Middle Schools
By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Candy, soda, pizza and other snacks compete with nutritious meals in nine out of 10 schools, a government survey found.

Already plentiful in high schools, junk food has become more available in middle schools over the past five years, according to the Government Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

"Parents should know that our schools are now one of the largest sources of unhealthy food for their kids," Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record), who asked for the study, said in an interview.

"Would anyone advocate that we take the fences off the playground for elementary schools and just let kids run around in the streets?" Harkin, D-Iowa, said. "By the same token, why would we allow schools to sort of poison our kids with junk food?"

Obesity among children and teenagers more than doubled in the past three decades, according to the government-chartered Institute of Medicine. Obese kids will become adults with chronic health problems, said Harkin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

He and other lawmakers want the government to set nutrition standards for food throughout schools and not just in the cafeteria.

Giving kids healthier options "should not be a suggestion, it should be a requirement," said Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., another committee member. Kids are suffering from higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and other illnesses normally associated with adults, said Rep. George Miller (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif.

At issue are so-called competitive foods — snacks such as candy, soda, pizza and popcorn available in a la carte lines in cafeterias, in vending machines and in school stores. Apples and milk are also competitive foods, but the GAO said candy and other junk food crowds out healthier stuff in vending machines and school stores. Competitive foods are largely unregulated.

The Agriculture Department had restricted sales of competitive foods until a 1983 federal court ruling, in a lawsuit by the National Soft Drink Association, limited its regulation to food service areas such as cafeterias during mealtime.

Schools raise substantial dollars from selling competitive foods; 30 percent of high schools raised more than $125,000 annually. The GAO said it was unclear how much competitive food sales benefited school groups and how much benefited school food service.

Advocacy groups point to a government study of 17 schools and districts that improved the nutrition value of their foods. Revenue increased in 12 schools and did not change in four others, the study by the Agriculture Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

"Schools can make money without selling junk food," said Margo G. Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The GAO sampled schools that participate in the Agriculture Department's federal school lunch program, which subsidizes school meals and regulates their nutritional content. Those meals have to follow the government's dietary guidelines, which call for eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less calories, fat, added sugars and sodium.

The GAO reported that of 656 schools in its sample, 51 percent of principals and school food directors responded to a Web-based survey. Investigators also traveled to six school districts that have tried to substitute healthier choices for less nutritious foods. The survey's margin of error was plus or minus 15 percentage points.

The GAO report, scheduled for release Wednesday, found:

Nine in 10 schools sell competitive foods from vending machines, cafeteria a la carte (snack) lines and school stores.

Vending machines were available in almost all high schools and middle schools but in less than half of elementary schools.

In one-third of schools, sweet baked goods, salty snacks and other less-nutritious foods were available in cafeteria snack lines.

Schools often sold competitive foods at lunchtime, in the cafeteria or nearby, allowing kids to buy them for lunch or to supplement their lunches.

Three-quarters of high schools have exclusive soft drink contracts. Sixty-five percent of middle schools have exclusive beverage contracts, up from 26 percent five years ago.
Recipes from 85 Years of White Castle Craving

Proceeds from the recipe book will be donated to Turkeys 4 America, Inc. - - a charity dedicated to providing turkeys to families in need across the nation

What do recipes including a sack of 10 hamburgers and stories from the most loyal White Castle Cravers all have in common? They're all included in the newest recipe book from White Castle that is now available. By the Sackful: A Scrapbook with Recipes from 85 Years of White Castle Craving celebrates the past 14 years of our annual recipe contest and lets customers create their favorite dish made with White Castles. Of course you can learn how to make our famous Turkey Stuffing recipe too.

The new recipe book kicks off the 2006 celebration of White Castle's 85th anniversary. As the oldest fast-food hamburger chain in the country we're proud of the loyal customer following we've created over the years. The recipe book is a way to celebrate the heritage of the company and to honor Cravers and their stories of their White Castle memories. Also included are vintage photographs, advertising campaign visuals and posters from the years gone by. The book is currently available online for $14.95 at www.whatyoucrave.com and beginning November 6 a limited supply of books will be available in all White Castle restaurants.

Proceeds from the recipe book will be donated to Turkeys 4 America, Inc. - - a charity dedicated to providing turkeys to families in need across the country. Dan and Betsy Nally of the Boston area started the organization when they were 9 and 5 respectively, now they are 18 and 14. "Turkeys 4 America is a wonderful organization that we are proud to partner with and we are excited to donate the book's proceeds to their cause," commented Kim Bartley, VP of Marketing and Site Development.

White Castle is based in Columbus, Ohio, and operates 393 restaurants in 11 states. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 and was the first fast-food hamburger chain.

White Castle is based in Columbus, Ohio, and operates 393 restaurants in 11 states. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 and was the first fast-food hamburger chain. For additional information, please visit White Catle's web site at http://www.whitecastle.com/ .
See ya!! BYE BYE!!! Remember!! Junk food is very dangerous!! That's all what i mean!!! See ya!! BYEBYE
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HUYEN

[RedRose]

I had never known Junk food was so interesting until I read this msg

Anyway, I like this msg, but I hate junk food

[Emma_kimdinh]

hey Lisa Huyen you always always talk about junk food.Here,on ur website,.........you are a crazy fan of junk food,aren't you?
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Hi there!!! Nice to meet you, my friends, who come from all over the world !!!