Professor Voices » Boston Public Schools

New school nutrition guidelines to be set for Boston Public Schools

Jo Breiner — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:06:41 +0000

Massachusetts is preparing to issue new school nutrition guidelines. It is being reported that the state’s Public Health Council will set some of the toughest standards in the country. Joan Salge Blake, a clinical associate professor of nutrition at Boston University’s Sargent College, offers the following comment:

“With an alarming percentage of the state’s youth either obese or at risk of becoming obese, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has proposed nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages, which are all food and/or beverages sold or provided in public schools, other than those that are provided as part of federal nutrition programs. These foods include those sold not only in the school cafeteria but also in school stores, vending machines, fund-raising activities, and even school-sponsored events.

“The proposed regulations set limits for the amount of many nutrients, such as fat, saturated fat, sugars, and sodium, that these competitive foods and beverages can contain per serving. The final regulations will be released on Wednesday, July 13th and are expected to go into effect on August 1st.”

Contact Joan at 617-353-7470, salge@bu.edu, Twitter: @joansalgeblake

Hardin Coleman on prevention pyramids

Lauren Davalla — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:22:53 +0000

SED Dean Hardin Coleman discusses the pros and cons of the prevention pyramid tactic for student achievement:

Hardin Coleman on BPS’ Carol Johnson

Lauren Davalla — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:21:41 +0000

SED Dean Hardin Coleman reacts to the reappointment of Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol Johnson:

Watch this video on YouTube

The (Food) Dating Game; Joan Salge Blake offers insight into determining food safety

Lauren Davalla — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:45:08 +0000

Joan Salge Blake, Clinical Associate Professor of Nutrition at College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, reacts to today’s announcement of the dismissal of the Boston Public School’s longtime director of food and nutrition services. The dismissal was sparked by Boston Councilor at Large John R. Connolly‘s surprise investigative visits to BPS cafeterias earlier this year and the reported 280 cases of out-of-date food in 40 BPS cafeterias:

The (Food) Dating Game

We all have played the dating game. That is, the Food Label Dating Game. It’s when you find that a package of raw chicken breasts in the back of the refrigerator and the date has expired, and thus, the game begins. Should I cook it and eat it? Should I toss it? Will I get sick if I eat it?

Keep in mind that the date on the food package does not refer to food safety, but to the quality of the food. In other words, this is the date in which you should consume the product in order to enjoy it at its best quality. Whenever you see a date on the label, there must be a phrase next to the date that tells you how to interpret it.

If there is “Sell By” next to the date, you should purchase the product on or before that date. If there is “Best if Used By” or “Use By” next to it, this refers to the date by which you should consume the product in order to enjoy it at its best quality. If you don’t plan to consume a product by its Use By date, you can freeze it. However, once frozen, the Use By date doesn’t apply.

To help you to decide if you should eat it or toss it, the FDA has created a handy list to help you make a decision. If you are still unsure, error on the cautious side.

When it doubt, toss it out.

Joan can be reached at salgeblake@bu.edu or @joansalgeblake.