030635 Food Safety, School Meals on Agenda for MeetingJune 27, 2003Alexandria, VA- The largest annual national gathering of school nutrition professionals will take place in Reno, Nevada, next month, July 20 - 23, 2003. The Annual National Conference of the American School Food Service Association will bring together those who plan, prepare and serve school breakfasts and lunches to over 28 million children each school day. Child nutrition directors at the district level and school foodservice managers and their staffs at the school level will join educators, state and federal government officials and members of the school foodservice industry, for over 100 education sessions, the industry's largest exhibit hall and nationally recognized speakers. Among topics to be covered at the conference are: - Child Nutrition Reauthorization - Food safety, irradiation and school meals - Offering nutritious snacks and meals - Addressing school soda contracts and vending sales - Setting up farm to school programs - Developing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Plans (HACCP) - Marketing fruits and vegetables in the school environment - Accommodating special dietary needs and food allergies - Expanding and promoting school breakfast - Increasing calcium consumption among teens General session speakers will include Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas. Actress Ann Jillian will also speak, discussing inspirational health issues. Authors John Alston and Jack Canfield will also address attendees. USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Eric Bost will address the conference at Monday's General Session. The school foodservice industry's largest Exhibit Hall will feature all the major suppliers of food, equipment and software/hardware technology for school nutrition programs. Child nutrition professionals will sample a wide variety of foods including low-fat versions of many favorite entrees and snacks, some of which could very well appear in a school cafeteria near you this fall. During the conference ASFSA will launch Child Nutrition U, the comprehensive online education campus for school foodservice professionals. The newly revised Keys To Excellence and an interactive wellness initiative will also be introduced. The Global Child Nutrition Forum also returns this year with 24 school feeding experts from 14 nations convening to discuss global child nutrition programs. Members of the press are welcome to attend at no cost. ASFSA (www.asfsa.org) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. Founded in 1946, ASFSA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children's health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
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