State Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, urged health and food services officials from K-12 schools across the state to clean up cafeteria food and teach proper eating habits to students in a conference held Wednesday at Kellogg Center.

"It is outrageous what our schools are doing," he said. "I was uninformed about the cornucopia of crap our schools are offering. What our schools are doing to our children is nearly criminal."

Opening the daylong event, Bernero discussed a bill that would, if passed, eliminate soft drinks and some high-sugar foods from school cafeterias.

"It is the junk food ban for schools," he said. "Twenty-two of my colleagues agree that junk food should be banned from our schools and soda pop should not be available during the day."

The program was sponsored by two organizations aimed to address the issue of child obesity - the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Community Health.

"It's a huge problem," said Anne Gladstone, administrative assistant for the School-Community Health Alliance. "Kids today are not eating the way they should be; a lot of people say it's because of what is offered in schools."

Although the issue isn't as prevalent on college campuses, bad habits can be carried on to college.

Katie DeLuca, the food services director for Charlotte Public Schools, said she has seen corporations like Coke and Pepsi try to hook students while they are young.

"Since the shift in funding schools are vulnerable to opportunities," she said. "I understand why schools do it, but I don't agree with it."

All MSU cafeterias offer soft drinks and sweets, along with healthier options.

"Students have choices," said Sharron Frucci, human resource quality assurance coordinator for MSU's Housing and Food Services. "Students are old enough to make their own decisions."

Bernero cited school district alliances with major soft drink companies as a root of obesity in students.

"The liberal left that is into choices conspires with the corporate right that has commercialized schools," he said. "Together, they have a strangle-hold on our schools."

DeLuca and Bernero were not alone in their observations.

"Schools have to take the initiative in getting rid of pop and sugary drinks," said Dr. Bhavana Vyas, associate medical director of the school-based health system for Henry Ford Academy School District.

"I have one child that is in the fifth grade and he is 305 pounds. It is a big issue that needs to be addressed."

Although DeLuca agreed with the senator on some issues, she said schools are making an effort to serve healthier food.

Schools are not only there to educate children, but to put them in a good environment, Bernero said.

"If something is not good for my kid, it does not belong in school," he said.