The board's finance committee discussed the matter at a meeting Friday, but once again decided to send the rule back to staff for further review.

Some committee members agreed the state school board should come up with a rule that requires healthier choices in vending machines. But they disagree about whether a rule should be mandated statewide or left for local districts to implement if they choose.

The rule, as currently written, would forbid schools from selling foods during the school day that are more than 300 calories per unit, more than 35 percent fat, foods in which more than 10 percent of the total calories come from saturated fat, foods that contain trans fat, foods of minimal nutritional value, such as soda, and beverages more than 20 ounces in size except for water.

Board members Mark Cluff and Greg Haws said they do not support rules that usurp local control. If the Utah State Office of Education does adopt a rule, "it should be a recommendation for local [school] boards to implement as they see fit," Cluff said.

Board members Randall Mackey and Janet Cannon favor implementation of a statewide rule. Mackey said the board is obligated to monitor what schools put in front of children, "and it's appropriate to set some guidelines for kids."

Cannon said she understands schools stand to lose revenue they get from vending machines if the rule changes, but there is a "benefit to the state putting our children's health interest in front of local control."

Representatives of Pepsi and Coca-Cola attended Friday's meeting to tell committee members the soft-drink industry is implementing initiatives that promote health and wellness in schools.

The American Beverage Association and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation adopted school beverage guidelines in 2006. According to the association's Web site, full-calorie soft drinks are being removed from schools. At the elementary level, guidelines recommend offering only bottled water and up to 8 ounces of milk and 100 percent juice with no sweeteners. Guidelines are similar for middle schools but 10-ounce beverages are allowed, according to the Web site.

"As an industry we have already implemented 90 percent of what they're talking about," said Paul Van Slooten, general manager of the Salt Lake market unit of Pepsi.

The representatives also encouraged board members to let districts decide whether to implement vending machine standards. If statewide rules are adopted, though, they'd like them to align with industry guidelines.

rorellana@sltrib.com

More nutritious; less calorific

The school nutrition rule, as currently written, would prohibit schools from selling foods during the school day that:

* have more than 300 calories per unit

* have more than 35 percent fat per unit

* contain trans fat

* have saturated fat that accounts for more than 10 percent of total calories.

In addition, water is the only beverage that could be sold in containers larger than 20 ounces.

Source: State Office of Education