Schol soda contracts have many critics

It's common practice for schools and school districts to enter into exclusive contracts with soda companies to pay for extra-curricular programs not covered by the general fund.

But this kind of creative funding draws many critics who look at school soda contracts as deals made with the devil for the sake of money.

In 2003, Senate Bill 67 took carbonated sodas out of elementary and middle school machines, leaving students with only juices, sports drinks and bottled water.

Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Norwalk, was hoping to see a second bill, SB-1566, remove unhealthy foods and beverages from high schools, as well. But in June, advocates were told by the Assembly Health Committee that all references to soda would stricken from the bill, and that the legislation would address only food products.

As proposals evolve at the state capitol, at Lodi High, Coke is king.

Stacy Rowe, a junior at Lodi High, said she buys a soda about every other day during the school week.

"I only drink it here," she said, taking a long swig of Sprite. "I have to drink water at home because it's good for me, according to my mother."

Sodas in LUSD schools cost $1.25 per 20-ounce bottle, and despite the meager earnings of the average high school student, there is no shortage of Coke products on the Lodi High campus.

After a typical lunch period, the Lodi High campus is littered with plastic detritus marked "Dasani" and "Diet Coke."

Darla VanWarmerdam, food services director for Galt Join Union High School District, said that having soda machines in school is not in line with what's best for the students.

"The food service program was put in schools to give students nutrition so they can learn," said "You're sacrificing what we believe students really need for money."

Soda contributes to poor health, which in turn can contribute to poor academic performance, said a report put out by Project LEAN, a California-based health advocacy group.

In addition to obesity and diseases, like Type 2 Diabetes, associated with being overweight, Project LEAN also points out that more than 51 million hours of school time are lost every year in America because of dental related illnesses.

Perhaps no one knows this better than Jeff Huston, a pediatric dentist in Lodi who has seen a lot of bad teeth in his twenty years of practice.

He's also seen firsthand the debilitating effects soda consumption can have on developing teeth and bones.

"Drinking soda inhibits calcium's being absorbed into bones," Huston said, adding that low calcium absorption is especially damaging to bone health in women. "It's just so much healthier to drink water."

Huston recommended that children try to limit themselves to one soda per day and brush their teeth after every time they eat a meal or drink a sugary drink, and encouraged them to make healthy choices.

"As individuals, we need to be in tune with what's going on," he said. "If we keep buying it, they'll keep selling it."

Though LUSD's contract with Coca Cola has another five years to go, Galt High board members will vote in November on the renewal of their five-year contract with PepsiCo., Board President Pat Maple said.

Christine Hoffman, superintendent of Galt High Joint Union, said that, in the meantime, the board has responded to the concern that Pepsi machines at the high school have only soda options.

This semester, she said, the machines will offer not only soda, but water and healthier alternatives to soda, such as juice or sports drinks.

Contact reporter Sara Cardine at sarac@lodinews.com.

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