Just found this myself, from your e-mail.

New Jersey NJ combined bills AB 2339, AB 2356/SB 1913, AB 2905/SB 1916 and AB 3196 (carryover from 2004)

Would prohibit the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value to pupils at public elementary or middle schools until at least one-half hour after the end of the school day. Before school opens and during school hours, vending machine food sold to pupils would have to be a whole grain, enriched or fortified grain or grain product, a fruit or vegetable, a nut or nut spread, a seed, a legume, a trail mix, a soy-based product, a milk or dairy product, an electrolyte-replacement beverage, 100 percent real fruit or vegetable juice, or water. Would prohibit foods such as candy bars, hard candy, chewing gum, an item that contains more than 35 percent sugar or other sweetener, or an item that contains more than eight grams of fat per serving. Vending machines in high schools would have to contain at least one food and one beverage item which meets this dietary criteria. Home-baked goods sold for fundraisers would be exempt.

Thank you all. I will follow this closely now.

Hi!

I live in NJ and while and we have not been given anything about this law or impending law. I can tell you that the cafateria service that is used by our school does sell ice cream, cookies, & fruit snacks. The kids cannot purchase these items until they have finished their lunch, but they are indeed selling them.

This is a food service company that is hired to bring in a serve the food. They are supposed to be following state guidlines. So that would lead me to believe that no offical law has been handed down yet.

You should be able to ask your Superintendent.

This is part of a growing national debate and many states are passing more restrictive policies in this area.

The key to finding information is knowing the buzz words: "Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV)" and "Competetive Foods". These terms are coined at the federal level in the lunch reimbursement programs administered by the US Dept. of Agriculture. So states are building on that, sometimes implementing even stricter policies.

Your school district officials should be able to point you to information. I guarantee they are following this topic closely.

In your state, there was a bill (A3196) introduced about implementing a nutrition policy. It had passed the Assembly and gone to the Senate in December. But I don't know enough about your legislative cycle to know if it died there or is still pending.
www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp

Here are some other websites:

Status of vending machines in schools
www.ncsl.org/programs/health/vending.htm

USDA FAQ on National School Lunch Program
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/About/faqs.htm

USDA FMNV Definitions
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/menu/fmnv.htm

I was just told by someone that the state of New Jersey is not allowing the sale of cake or candy in Elementary Schools during lunch periods anymore? I have been looking on the internet for the law, or whatever it is, but cannot find it. I wanted to know if we would be able to sell other things, like fruit, or pretzels. Does anyone know anything about this?