PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Tell Florida’s Agricultural Commissioner-Elect to Keep Sugary Drinks Out of Schools
  1. Signatures
    1,751 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. Commissioner of Agriculture-Elect (Adam Putnam)
  2. Created By
    Brie Cadman
    Charlottesville, VA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Florida’s Board of Education has made a move to ban flavored milk and other high-sugar drinks from the school lunch line. These drinks, consumed by thousands of children a day, contribute to excess calories and sugar and excessive consumption can lead to chronic health problems, including obesity and diabetes.

But the incoming Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, is telling the Board of Education to hold off on the ban. Why? He wants to weigh in on the decision.

But Putnam is not without ties to the industry. His political campaign received thousands of dollars from the dairy industry and his department is in charge of promoting agricultural products, including dairy. When an industry both promotes a product and sets dietary guidelines for it, there’s a major conflict of interest.

Chocolate and flavored milks contain more than five teaspoons of sugar -- almost the same amount as a cup of soda. The amount of sugar exceeds the American Heart Association's recommended daily limit for children aged 4 to 8.

There's no reason for schools to promote and sell highly-sweetened beverages. And the dairy industry shouldn't be dictating what our children consume. Tell incoming Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam that the Florida Board of Education should be allowed to proceed with their ban on flavored milks and other high-sugar drinks in schools. 

Photo credit: eelke dekker

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Let the Board of Education Proceed with Ban on Flavored Milks and Sugary Drinks

Greetings,

You recently sent a letter to the Board of Education putting a halt to the debate about a ban on flavored milks and sugary drinks in the Florida schools. While it’s true that all foods should be evaluated for nutritional merits, the proposed ban is a logical step to reduce the amount of unnecessary sugar and calories consumed by Florida’s school children.

Flavored milk has almost as much sugar as soda and packs almost twice the calories of regular milk. With one-third of Florida's children overweight or obese, serving them highly sweetened beverages doesn't make sense.

Don’t let industry influence sway good nutritional policymaking. Make the right choice for kids and let the Board of Education continue with their ban.

[Your name]

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