The most radical schools anti-obesity law in America to date - outlawing soft drinks and fatty snacks from all Connecticut schools - was vetoed by the state governor last month amid stiff lobbying from beverage and food manufacturers.

The so-called “school junk food Bill”, approved by both houses of Connecticut’s legislature, went beyond existing measures in other states like California and Arizona banning sugary drinks and snacks from primary and middle schools but drew the line at secondaries - a coveted market for firms eyeing vending machine sales.

But Connecticut governor M Jodi Rell exercised her right of veto, saying the Bill would “usurp” education authority control and “undermine parents’

control and responsibility” and that the 100 additional minutes of weekly physical education it called for would eat into lesson time.

She called for alternative approaches to addressing spiralling school-age obesity, including health education for parents and students.

Leadership 26