Policy Pick: Long Beach Rethinks its Drinks (and Snacks)December 19, 2011 |
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 The City of Long Beach took a bold step recently in the fight against childhood obesity by requiring healthier food and beverages in city-owned vending machines and at its events. The City Council approved both the Healthy Snack Food and Beverage Policy and the Healthy Beverage Vending Policy on Dec. 6. The new guidelines require all snacks and beverages sold in most vending machines on city property, as well as all consumable items served at city events, to meet specific nutritional guidelines. Exempt from the new policy are vending machines not accessible to the public, as well as vending machines on city-owned property - but under the control of city lessees and concessionaires, like golf courses, tennis centers, beach and park concession stands and airport food vendors. The council's decision was unexpected, given the original recommendation from staff to defer adoption of the beverage vending policy until a request for proposals for vending machine operations was completed. City staff noted that more time was needed to determine the effect of the new policy. But Councilmember Steven Neal introduced an amendment to adopt the new policy immediately so that an RFP to vendors that would reflect the city's new guidelines on healthier beverages for children. The guidelines bar sodas, fruit-flavored drinks and other sugary beverages from vending machines in community centers, parks and other youth-oriented areas. The new policy received support from the California Food Policy Advocates, The Children's Clinic and other members of the community. For more information, please contact First 5 LA Senior Policy Analyst Kate Sachnoff at ksachnoff@first5la.org. |
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