FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Regal Wagner
susanw@olsoncom.com 312-280-9061
School Foodservice Director Perspectives on Added Sugar and Sweeteners
Tami Cline presents new research at Food & Nutrition Conference
CHICAGO, Ill.) Tami Cline, PhD, RD, SNS and principle of Cline Consulting presented a new study by Y-Pulse LLC at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Philadelphia, October 7, 2012 entitled Added Sugar and Sweeteners, School Foodservice Perspectives. Cline, a leading expert on child nutrition and school foodservice participated in a lively panel discussion on this subject that is a continuing challenge to registered dietitians regardless of the their professional practice area.
The Y-Pulse study included a nationwide survey of 141 of the country's leading foodservice directors that delved into their perspectives on added sugars and sweeteners in food and beverages offered to children in K-12 schools. Forty-two percent of those surveyed indicated that their schools have language limiting added sugars or sweeteners in their School Wellness Policies.
The study asked foodservice directors about their personal opinions on added sugars in recipes or beverages, corn-based sweetener and sugar substitutes. They were also asked about their perception of the opinions of their students, parents and teachers on the subject. There were significant differences between school foodservice directors' personal opinions and their perceptions of the opinions of teachers and parents. The majority of foodservice directors believed their students were neutral or did not have strong opinions about added sugar and sweeteners.
The Y-Pulse study presented at the Food and Nutrition Conference was an initial exploration of the topic of added sugars and sweeteners in foods and beverages served to children in schools. The next wave of this study is planned for late 2012 and will include original quantitative research with parents of children in K-12 schools and K-12 teachers in addition to more in-depth study of foodservice directors' perspectives on specific foods and beverages. It will benchmark differences in expectations for foods and beverages consumed at school versus at home and away from home and identify differences between expectations for K-12 students.
Y-Pulse, LLC, a subsidiary of Olson Communications, is a research and consulting firm that specializes in helping companies in the food business better understand tomorrow's tastemakers today. It is a certified Women's Business Enterprise, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. For more information on Y-Pulse, or the upcoming study on added sugars and sweeteners, please contact info@ypulse.org, at 312.280.9061. Y-Pulse is a registered trademark of Y-Pulse LLC..
###