Ohio Code 3313.814 – Standards governing types of foods and beverages sold on school premises
(A) As used in this section and sections 3313.816 and 3313.817 of the Revised Code:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 3313.814
- agriculture: includes farming; ranching; aquaculture; algaculture meaning the farming of algae; apiculture and related apicultural activities, production of honey, beeswax, honeycomb, and other related products; horticulture; viticulture, winemaking, and related activities; animal husbandry, including, but not limited to, the care and raising of livestock, equine, and fur-bearing animals; poultry husbandry and the production of poultry and poultry products; dairy production; the production of field crops, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees, flowers, sod, or mushrooms; timber; pasturage; any combination of the foregoing; the processing, drying, storage, and marketing of agricultural products when those activities are conducted in conjunction with, but are secondary to, such husbandry or production; and any additions or modifications to the foregoing made by the director of agriculture by rule adopted in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code. See Ohio Code 1.61
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Property: means real and personal property. See Ohio Code 1.59
- United States: includes all the states. See Ohio Code 1.59
(1) “A la carte item” means an individually priced food or beverage item that is available for sale to students through any of the following:
(a) A school food service program;
(b) A vending machine located on school property;
(c) A store operated by the school, a student association, or other school-sponsored organization.
“A la carte item” does not include any food or beverage item available for sale in connection with a school-sponsored fundraiser held outside of the regular school day, any other school-sponsored event held outside of the regular school day, or an interscholastic athletic event. “A la carte item” also does not include any food or beverage item that is part of a reimbursable meal and that is available for sale as an individually priced item in a serving portion of the same size as in the reimbursable meal, regardless of whether the food or beverage item is included in the reimbursable meal served on a particular school day.
(2) “Added sweeteners” means any additives that enhance the sweetness of a beverage, including processed sugar. “Added sweeteners” do not include any natural sugars found in fruit juices that are a component of the beverage.
(3) “Extended school day” means the period before and after the regular school day during which students participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities, latchkey programs as defined in section 3313.207 of the Revised Code, or other academic or enrichment programs.
(4) “Regular school day” means the period each school day between the designated arrival time for students and the end of the final instructional period.
(5) “Reimbursable meal” means a meal that is provided to students through a school breakfast or lunch program established under the “National School Lunch Act,” 60 Stat. 230 (1946), 42 U.S.C. § 1751, as amended, and the “Child Nutrition Act of 1966,” 80 Stat. 885, 42 U.S.C. § 1771, as amended, and that meets the criteria for reimbursement established by the United States department of agriculture.
(6) “School food service program” means a school food service program operated under section 3313.81 or 3313.813 of the Revised Code.
(B) Each school district board of education and each chartered nonpublic school governing authority shall adopt and enforce nutrition standards governing the types of food and beverages that may be sold on the premises of its schools, and specifying the time and place each type of food or beverage may be sold.
(1) In adopting the standards, the board or governing authority shall do all of the following:
(a) Consider the nutritional value of each food or beverage;
(b) Consult with a dietitian licensed under Chapter 4759 of the Revised Code, a dietetic technician registered by the commission on dietetic registration, or a school nutrition specialist certified or credentialed by the school nutrition association. The person with whom the board or governing authority consults may be an employee of the board or governing authority, a person contracted by the board or governing authority, or a volunteer, provided the person meets the requirements of this division.
(c) Consult the dietary guidelines for Americans jointly developed by the United States department of agriculture and the United States department of health and human services and, to the maximum extent possible, incorporate the guidelines into the standards.
(2) No food or beverage may be sold on any school premises except in accordance with the standards adopted by the board or governing authority.
(3) The standards shall comply with sections 3313.816 and 3313.817 of the Revised Code, but nothing in this section shall prohibit the standards from being more restrictive than otherwise required by those sections.
(C) The nutrition standards adopted under this section shall prohibit the placement of vending machines in any classroom where students are provided instruction, unless the classroom also is used to serve students meals. This division does not apply to vending machines that sell only milk, reimbursable meals, or food and beverage items that are part of a reimbursable meal and are available for sale as individually priced items in serving portions of the same size as in the reimbursable meal.
(D) Each board or governing authority shall designate staff to be responsible for ensuring that the school district or school meets the nutrition standards adopted under this section. The staff shall prepare an annual report regarding the district’s or school’s compliance with the standards and include it in the report to the department of education and workforce prescribed in section 3301.68 of the Revised Code. The board or governing authority annually shall schedule a presentation on the nutrition standards report at one of its regular meetings. Each district or school shall make copies of the nutrition standards report available to the public upon request.
(E) The department of education and workforce shall formulate and adopt guidelines, which boards of education and chartered nonpublic schools may follow in enforcing and implementing this section.
Last updated July 31, 2023 at 4:39 PM