The Pros of Junk Food Sales in Schools

There is a growing movement aimed to ban junk food and vending machines from the public schools. You may have seen news reports of protests against the giant fast-food chains. Some parents are claiming the chains target kids with toys and fatty foods. You may not think there are any positive reasons to sell junk food in the schools but a closer look might surprise you.

Revenue

• According to Common Dreams, the largest vendors in the schools are the soda giants Coke and Pepsi. A contract deal with either company can net hundreds of thousands of dollars for a school district in a few years and more if the district is very large. Kids that don't like the menu of the day in the cafeteria can choose some snacks and a soft drink from a vending machine or they might get a snack during extracurricular activities to hold them over until supper. The vending machine earns the school money that is above and beyond the school budget.

School Supplies

• Many districts use part of the funds they receive from vending machines to buy necessary school supplies such as books, computers, field trips, yearbook and awards. In Jacksonville, Fla., schools received more than two million dollars in one year according to the Jacksonville Times, March 2010. A "pro" reason for keeping the vending machines in the schools is the potential loss of revenue which may result. This concern is particularly acute in a time of economic distress. Many school districts cannot afford to loose the funds that junk food brings to their budget.

Building Maintenance

• Money received from vending machine sales in schools has saved school districts thousands of dollars on building maintenance. Tax increases occur on an annual basis in some school districts. Saving on maintenance costs can overt higher taxes on the community. In Texas, the Abilene school district removed soft drinks from their vending machines and suffered a loss of $75,000, a 75 percent drop in sales in one year, reported by Vending Market Watch News in November 2010.

Freedome of Choice

• Junk food sales can mean the difference between freedom of choice and stepping on human rights, for some. Many parents take pride in teaching their children how to make choices. Learning to distinguish between a healthy snack and an unhealthy one is part of the education process. In addition, not all children become obese by eating junk food. The Mayo Clinic reports that the major causes of childhood obesity are overeating, lack of exercise, family history, stress eating, and socio-economics.