Agriculture Commissioner rolls back ban on deep fryers, soda sales. Liz Crampton, The Texas Tribune.
Critics have argued that Miller's push is a step backward for childhood nutrition. In 2013, 16 percent of high school students in Texas were obese, up from 14 percent in 2005. Only Arkansas, Kentucky and Alabama reported higher rates. Nationwide, child obesity rates have jumped from 7 percent in 1980 to 18 percent in 2012.
Citing Local Control, ag commish ends ban on fryers, soda in schools. Brian M. Rosenthal, HoustonChronicle.com ($$$)
(The Chron doesn't want you to read this, hiding it behind their increasingly expensive paywall. In deference to that I am only quoting selectively and encourage you (if you can) to go and read the entire piece.)
The American Heart Association said in a statement that the changes would "roll back years of progress in the work to reduce childhood obesity."
The epidemic has emerged as a major health problem in Texas, which ranked fourth highest in America in obesity among high school students in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state's rate that year was 16 percent, up from 14 percent in 2003, according to the national organization.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller drops deep fried food ban in schools. Julie Chang, Austin American Statesman ($$$)
(As with the Chron, the Austin American-Statesman would prefer that you NOT read their journalism. I will respect their wishes by only selectively quoting here and encouraging you to go read the full article if you can)
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced Thursday that he is lifting a public-school ban on the use of deep-fat fryers and the sale of sodas. He said his decision returns control to school districts, which were required more than a decade ago to get rid of such types of foods. (Emphasis Added)
And so it goes.
It should be noted, and at least one of the articles states, that this change in State policy is likely to not change much. It's doubtful that many districts, under pressure from parents, will change existing policy.
Nor, looking at the data, does it appear that any schools who decide to bring back in fat-fryers and sodas will see much of an effect anyway. It's important to note that, from 2005 to 2013 (when the ban was in effect) the child obesity rate in Texas rose 2 percentage points and our State ranking (in comparison with other states) rose as well. According to this analysis Texas childhood obesity rates didn't move at ALL between 2003 and 2011. Furthermore, Texas Children STILL outrank the National Average for obesity rates despite this "ban" being in place for over a decade.
A person using reason, would be right in concluding that the ban is not having the desired effect.
However, the Texas media isn't using reason. In whole their reporting is driven by two things. 1. Anecdotal anger driven by advocacy groups whose goal is not, in whole, to reduce childhood obesity but to control and limit what the poor and obese eat and 2. A genuine dislike of Sid Miller, who has not given them the deference they feel they deserve either in the campaign or while in office.
The TLSPM framing of Mr. Miller has always been that he's a buffoon who has no business being in the position. This is not changing here nor is it likely to change. In many cases, the TLSPM endorsements skewed wildly toward Jim Hogan who not only did not actively campaign for the job, but who had no political experience or (seemingly) inclination to hold the job. If history tells us anything, the TLSPM is unlikely to admit that there were (ever) wrong about either a candidate, or an election, and will continue to double down on the negative coverage until a replacement (hopefully someone with a big Statist inclination) if found.
Until this happens Texas citizens can continue to expect a host of lock-step reporting that overblows tempests in teapots like you are seeing here. This is a policy change that will have almost zero impact, yet it's being treated as if Sid Miller is attempting to force-feed children fried food and mandate soda IVs during school hours.
Obviously, that's not the case, but realizing that means that you also have to realize that the TLSPM is not about reporting the news more than they are forwarding an agenda and (most importantly) generating page views.
