SACRAMENTO, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- State lawmakers worked Tuesday on differences in legislation that would make California the first U.S. state to ban junk food in all public schools.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backs the legislation that supporters praised as a way to curb childhood obesity and critics derided as misguided government intervention, The Christian Science Monitor reported.
Los Angeles schools led the fight with a 2003 ban on soda and a 2004 ban on junk food.
While officials said the moves cost Los Angeles schools revenue, they are glad they took the steps.
"Now we have the soda industry coming back to us and saying, 'We do have a healthy line of products so let's promote that,' " said Los Angeles school official Amy Dresser-Held of a June deal with Pepsico that includes a $2 million signing bonus for the school system.
"They realize that schools are a huge market and if they want to continue to play ball, this is our demand now," Dresser-Held said.
