White House Pushes to Rid Schools of Junk Food

Bake sales and class parties are exempted, but unhealthy junk foods would be removed from school cafeterias and vending machines under a White House push beginning this week.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack wants legislation aimed at reducing obesity among young people by ridding the nation's schools of sugary sodas, candy bars and french fries. School vending machines and cafeterias would be required to have more nutritious offerings, the Associated Press reported.

The measure would also increase spending for the government's school breakfast and lunch programs. It's expected to be introduced in the coming weeks by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), chairwoman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

Some Republicans said they would wait to read the Obama administraiton bill before deciding whether they would waive a long-held position that school boards should have the say over what students eat at school, The New York Times reported.

On Tuesday, as The Daily Flotus reported, First Lady Michelle Obama is to unveil at the White House the details of the anti-childhood obesity drive she is leading. In the evening she'll appear with CNN's Larry King to talk about her campaign.