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California's Schwarzenegger to 'terminate' school junk food
DPA

Los Angeles, Sep 30 (DPA) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill banning junk food in the state's schools in a bid to reduce obesity among children.

The former Mr. Universe and Hollywood star signed the bill in mid September using terminology pulled from one of his trademark action movie films.

"We are going to terminate obesity in California once and for all," Schwarzenegger said. "California is facing an obesity epidemic. Today we are taking some first steps in creating a healthy future for California."

Under the new rules, pizza, burritos, pasta and sandwiches must contain no more than four grams of fat for every 100 calories, with a total of 400 calories.

From 2007, students will only be allowed to buy water, milk and some fruit and sports drinks containing a controlled amount of sweeteners.

School snacks will be restricted to foods with no more than 35 percent of calories derived from fat, no more than 10 percent of calories derived from saturated fat and no more than 35 percent of the total weight from sugar, with no more than 250 calories.

This will mean that foods like yoghurt, nuts and milk will replace candy bars, chips and colas in school vending machines, while whole wheat pizza with low fat cheese could replace pastries and cakes.

The measures also earmark $18.2 million to reimburse schools for buying fruits and vegetables for school snacks and breakfasts.

Schwarzenegger signed the bills at an "obesity summit" after walking a kilometre (0.62 of a mile) with bicycle racing champion Lance Armstrong and hundreds of schoolchildren. 

"One out of three kids, one of four teenagers, is overweight or at risk," Schwarzenegger said. "This leads to major medical problems like diabetes, heart disease, sleep disorders, depression, and it robs our kids of a healthy childhood."

The move came just a week after the non-profit California Center for Public Health Advocacy released a study showing that 28 percent of Californian children are overweight and that in some communities the rate tops 40 percent.

Schwarzenegger's office, meanwhile, released figures showing that Californians have gained 163 million kg in weight over the last 10 years, while the cost of treating obesity-related health problems has risen to $28 billion.