New standards issued by the state Departments of Public Health and Education proposed banning so-called competitive foods including charity bake sales and candy drives.
This 2005 photo shows 5th graders in Westfield promoting a school bake sale. Legislators are trying to keep Whoopie pies, cupcakes and brownies from the culinary public enemy No. 1 list in schools across Massachusetts.
New standards issued by the state Departments of Public Health and Education proposed banning so-called competitive foods including charity bake sales and candy drives to support sports teams and sweet-filled holiday parties in public schools by Aug. 1.
However, legislators are attempting to come to their rescue – adding a budget rider restoring the occasional indulgences.
The amendment made the House budget Wednesday afternoon, and the Senate is expected to follow suit Thursday, according to state Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield, a former school teacher. He said even the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health Care is on board with bake sales.
“The Legislature wants to do the right thing. We think bureaucracy got ahead of itself this time,” Knapik said.
The state tightened up their school meals nutritional standards to combat childhood obesity.
The senator also noted that chocolate milk is “under siege” under the new standards, with regulators wanting to squeeze a good bit of sugar out of low-fat chocolate milk currently offered in school cafeterias.
“The dairy farmers say they’re not equipped to make the type of milk (the state is asking for) and it could turn into a total ban on chocolate milk,” Knapik said, adding that legislators also are considering intervening on behalf of chocolate milk.
Longtime PTA member Susan Prairie, of Wilbraham, a mother of three, said she believes the wellness movement for children is a good one but agrees with Knapik that it’s being taken too far.
“I don’t agree with the ban at all. Schools shouldn’t totally control something like this. Good nutritional habits start at home,” Prairie said. “Plus, it’s the Big Brother thing – too much control. You can’t ban everything.”
Prairie said that the PTAs in her town typically market baked goods to adults on election days or parents at open houses.
"I've never seen someone say: 'Here's five dollars, go buy a bunch of brownies to support the PTA,' " she said.
