Colorado’s Board of Education voted Wednesday to drop a ban on diet sodas in high schools.
The board voted four to three, along party lines with conservatives in the majority, to align the state’s Healthy Beverage Policy with federal rules.
“Districts said the complexity of following two different sets of rules created a regulatory burden and was a source of confusion,” Board Chairman Steve Durham said in a statement. “This change will streamline the rules, and at the same time put control over the issue where it belongs – in the hands of local school districts.”
The move allows diet sodas in school vending machines.
A coalition of health and dental advocates argued the change will also allow middle schoolers to consume more juice. That they say that contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
After the vote, a group of parents against the decision briefly disrupted the meeting in protest.
