[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10637-10638]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         IOWA CONCESSION STUDY

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I would like to take a few moments to 
recognize an innovative effort aimed at improving youth nutrition that 
took place at Muscatine High School in Iowa. Communities across the 
country are focusing on ways to build health and wellness into everyday 
life--in schools, workplaces, or elsewhere in the community--and this 
is one excellent example of just such an initiative.
  In a collaboration between the University of Iowa and the parent-led 
Muscatine booster club--``Muskie Boosters''--researchers and booster 
club members added new healthy items such as apples, carrots, granola 
bars, and grilled chicken to the concession stand's menu during high 
school athletic events. They didn't stop there--they also modified the 
ingredients in other items to make them healthier. For example, they 
eliminated the use of trans fats in the nachos. These menu changes had 
one main goal: give the Muscatine High School community access to fresh 
and healthy food, where previously only junk food could be found.
  And here is the really great news: The University of Iowa researchers 
who participated in this experiment found that selling healthier 
products had almost no impact on concession revenues

[[Page 10638]]

and actually resulted in a slight increase in sales per football game 
with the introduction of healthier items and ingredient changes. Sales 
of some new items increased with each game, and--no surprise--parents 
were more satisfied with the healthier foods than they were with the 
less healthy food options.
  The results of this study are further evidence that offering healthy 
food can be good for both our Nation's physical and our Nation's fiscal 
health. In fact, these results show us that selling healthier foods can 
actually increase profits and customer satisfaction. The study also 
provides an exemplary model of how academic institutions can work 
collaboratively with local communities to improve nutrition and health.
  Given the alarming rates of childhood obesity, it is more important 
than ever that we continue to find creative and innovative solutions to 
confront the obesity epidemic. I commend the Muskie Boosters, the 
University of Iowa researchers, and other study authors who worked 
together to find innovative yet simple ways to improve the quality of 
food being offered to our kids in the Muscatine community. I hope we 
can expand the great work they have done to other communities in Iowa 
and all across the Nation.

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