Over the past few years, new state laws regarding food sold on school campuses have been established. The school has adapted to these state laws as they have been passed. Laws regarding the food sold by student clubs have recently been enforced as the school tries to align itself with the law. While some clubs, such as the Black Student Union (BSU), have adjusted to the enforced law, other clubs fail to follow due to a lack of communication between ASB and clubs.

The Calif. Senate Bill 12, which was put in effect in July 2007, limits the amount of fat in the food sold on campus during the school day.

Food sold by organizations during school hours “may not be prepared on school premises or in private homes.” It must be prepared by a restaurant or store. By July 2009, high schools will be required to be in “10 percent compliance with the same standards as middle schools.”

From February 25-March 1, the BSU held a week of festivities celebrating Black History Month. In order to pay for some of the week’s activities, BSU was required to sell Costco hotlinks after school on Thursday, February 28, because of a law that restricts on-campus sale of foods that do not meet nutritional guidelines.

According to Clubs Commissioner junior Blaire Lee-Nakayama, if any club “puts in a charter to sell food that does not abide by the regulations and guidelines set by the law, it will have to do so after school.”

After hearing about the law from other teachers, BSU adviser Kalinda Price expected rules to be enforced at the school.

“Because the new law states that if the food does not meet the nutritional guidelines, you have to [sell] after school or at least 30 minutes after the cafeteria closes,” Price said.

In an attempt to get “confirmed” buyers, BSU sold tickets ahead of time during school because it was unsure of how their product would sell after school. Although selling food after school seems tough due to students leaving campus, BSU “still had a very good fundraiser” and was “totally fine” with having to sell after school.

Despite the “tighter” policy that could negatively affect club’s fundraiser sales, Price feels it is a good idea in terms of “promoting nutrition.”

After club food fundraisers are passed by ASB, clubs have to go through the cafeteria, according to Food Services Coordination Debra Godfrey.

“Each group needs to come to me to get approval before they [sell food],” Godfrey said. “It saves them time … [and] I tell them if they can do it or if they can’t do it … They also shouldn’t be selling something that [the cafeteria is] selling.”

Godfrey feels they guidelines are good in that it is “an easy way to keep everybody safe.”

“I would rather be safe than to have anyone sick,” Godfrey said.

Since the policy restricts the selling of homemade goods, the Red Cross Club sold baked goods such as donuts brought from Donut du Jour and cookies bought from Draeger’s during lunch on Monday, March 3. According to Red Cross Club Treasurer and ASB member sophomore Anjali Mehta, Red Cross Club originally said they wanted to have a bake sale, but in passing the charter for in ASB, it was told they had to buy the goods from a store rather than make them at home. When ASB passes food fundraiser forms, it has to make sure clubs purchase their products, according to Anjali.

However, there was a lack of communication as some members still brought homemade goods to sell during lunch. Red Cross Club Volunteer Officer sophomore Jaime Eng made and sold chocolate cupcakes and said she only found out about the law they day of the bake sale.

“For the next fundraiser, we won’t be bringing any homemade food,” Red Cross Club Publicity Officer sophomore Tina Chen said.