Campbellford, Ont.– To address rising rates of childhood obesity, the Ontario government, with support from the Dieticians of Canada, has rightly targeted in-school nutritional standards. They’re demanding that public elementary and secondary schools in the province adopt recommendations set out in a new School Food and Beverage Policy that came into effect September 1, 2011. The issue is, some school boards are ignoring the spirit and intent of Memorandum 150, which explicitly exempts “food and beverages that are sold for fundraising activities that occur off school premises.” They’re moving to ban parents’ right to allow children to raise money for charity through off-school chocolate fundraisers. Yet shouldn’t parents, who are actually helping with the fundraising for the schools, have a say?
There are clear misconceptions surrounding chocolate fundraising in general. It’s true that childhood obesity has almost tripled in the last 25 years. But studies, such as one in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, have concluded “there is no scientific evidence that chocolate consumption is associated with obesity.” Chocolate sold through school fundraisers is mostly eaten by adults, according to 77% of more than 1,300 adults in Ontario (including 500 parents of children aged 4-13) polled by Ipsos Reid in September 2010. The fundraising is largely done through offices, neighbours or family. And a separate Market Optics survey concluded that 97% endorsed selling chocolate to fundraise for schools and worthy causes.
Long before child obesity was even an issue, World’s Finest® Chocolate has partnered with Ontario schools for more than fifty years (since 1958). And they’ve begun meeting with school boards, to present facts and clear up misconceptions about chocolate fundraising. Depending on the size of the school, a chocolate campaign can raise $20,000 or more in three weeks with the added benefit of not causing parent volunteer burnout. “School boards are forgetting that fundraising activities they’re proposing as alternatives don’t come close to generating the funds needed to replace long-standing and successful chocolate campaigns. These take only 2 or 3 dollars from each supporter, and work in high and low income neighbourhoods,” says Geoff Buttimor, Marketing Manager of World’s Finest® Chocolate.
Here are facts about chocolate fundraising in Canada:
Ontario schools have raised $10-million through World’s Finest® Chocolate in the past 5 years. Note: World’s Finest Chocolate (WFC) is just one of many chocolate fundraising companies.
An alleged link between chocolate and obesity has not been scientifically proven. A national 5-year study found children who consume candy and chocolate have significantly lower body weight, waist circumference and triceps skin fold measures versus non-consumers.
In fact, new research published in the British Medical Journal involving more than 114,000 people determined “chocolate was a viable instrument in the prevention of heart disease if consumed in moderation…this beneficial association was significant for cardiovascular disease (37% reduction), diabetes (31%), and stroke (29%)”
92% of registered dieticians believe people are more likely to maintain a balanced lifestyle when they don’t deprive themselves of treats
World’s Finest® Chocolate contains no preservatives, artificial colours or added salt
Eaten in moderation, chocolate has been shown to have many benefits: It’s rich in antioxidants, flavenoids, vitamins and minerals, and contains valuable calcium and iron
Switzerland, Denmark and France have the highest consumption of chocolate, yet a low percentage of obese children; far lower than in Canada or the United States
Nearly three-quarters (72.9%) of registered dieticians believe that milk chocolate can be part of a healthy diet.
“A once-or twice-yearly chocolate campaign provides a great teaching opportunity, helping students learn to choose quality treats, and to understand that treats are an occasional food,” adds Buttimor. “Education always works better than an outright ban.”
The recent provincial Food and Beverage policy is a huge leap forward in the commitment to making schools healthier. World’s Finest® Chocolate fully supports and endorses its guidelines and the objectives of the Ministry of Education, including Memorandum 150’s exemption for food and beverages sold for off-school fundraising. The company believes taking the “spirit and intent” of this memorandum incorrectly and banning chocolate fundraising is taking it overboard: What could be next on school board agendas: Banning Girl Guides cookie campaign? The Boys Scouts Popcorn fundraiser? Banning the Easter Bunny?
