SALEM (AP) - A bill aimed at reducing the amount of junk food sold in public schools was approved Tuesday by the Oregon House after backers called it a necessary step to combat childhood obesity and diabetes.

Schools would have to sell foods and beverages containing less fat, less sugar and fewer calories under the bill.

“The obesity epidemic facing children is a crisis that demands a response from parents, from schools, from communities and from the Legislature,” Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, said as the House voted 46-11 to send the measure to the Senate.

The measure would set minimum standards for prepackaged foods and beverages sold in school vending machines beginning in the fall of 2008, although schools would have an extra year for a la carte items prepared on campuses.

Some legislators said they opposed the legislation because they did not feel the state should mandate what food can be offered by school districts.

Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, said she feared the bill would create a black market in schools for items such as Twinkies and M&Ms.

“I have two teenage daughters, and if you tell them they can't have it, they will want it,” Thatcher said.

The bill gained House approval on the same day that the Oregon Health Policy Commission issued a report estimating that one in every four 8th and 11th graders are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

The bill is HB2650