'' "Meatless Monday" Redux? These Four LB Councilmembers Want City Law To Require LB Restaurants To Make Low Sugar Drinks "Default Choice" On Bundled Kids Meals, Proposal On Oct. 17 Council Agenda '
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"Meatless Monday" Redux? These Four LB Councilmembers Want City Law To Require LB Restaurants To Make Low Sugar Drinks "Default Choice" On Bundled Kids Meals, Proposal On Oct. 17 Council Agenda


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Subsequent development: As seen LIVE: Council voted 8-0 (Andrews exiting prior to the vote) on Oct. 17 to have the City Att'y work with LB Health Dept. to draft an ordinance requiring LB restaurants serving bundled "kids meals" to make milk and water "default choice." Lead proponent Councilwoman Pearce cited need to prevent obesity and child dental problems, initially agendized allowing 60 calories of juice, but removed this on her floor motion; Councilwoman Mungo sought and won amendment allowing 40 calories of juice. No elected or member of the public commented that subject matter of the item isn't the City Council's job.
(Oct. 13, 2017, 5:50 a.m.) -- Four Long Beach Councilmembers -- Jeanine Pearce, joined by Lena Gonzalez, Dee Andrews and Roberto Uranga -- have agendized an item for the October 17, 2017 City Cuoncil meeting that (with one other supportive Council vote) would direct the City Attorney and LB Health Dept. "to draft an ordinance requiring all restaurants within Long Beach who have bundled Kid's Meals to offer water, milk or a 100% pure juice beverage that is under 60 calories as the 'default" choice.'"

In their agendizing memo, the four supportive Councilmembers write that "local governments have the power and the obligation to protect the public health of their constituents. Providing water, milk and juice beverages under 60 calories at restaurants as a 'default' choice before any sugary beverage, will help support parents and children to make healthier choices." They add that "Parents will still have the option to choose other beverages such as soda upon request, however behavioral economic research has shown that people are more likely to choose the 'default' option rather than selecting an alternative. Of the 1300 restaurants in Long Beach, 200 will need to make this change. It is important to note the policy does not prohibit any individual from purchasing a sugary beverage, nor does it prevent any restaurant from selling a sugary beverage."

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If their proposal advances to an enacted ordinance, the agendizers say it would be enforced through the LB Health Dept's Environmental Inspection Bureau via administration citations." They add: "In addition to enforcement measures, nonprofit partner organizations are currently seeking grant funding for an education and outreach campaign in order to promote the ordinance to both parents and restaurants."

The Oct. 17 agenda item is reminiscent of a May-June 2015 non-binding Council resolution to support "meatless Mondays" (which generated sizable social network and email objections) except that the Pearce-Gonzalez-Andrews-Uranga proposal is intended ultimately to produce (after future Council votes) an ordinance carrying the force of law. Councilwoman Pearce wasn't on the Council for the 2015 "Meatless Monday" item (she took office mid-July 2016) but Councilmembers Gonzalez and Uranga were on the Council...and co-authored the item.

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In their October 17 agenda item re requirements for restaurants sesrving bundled kids' meals, the four agendizing Councilmembers write in pertinent part:

Over the past 30 years, obesity rates in the U.S. have more than doubled. Approximately one-third of U.S. children are overweight or obese (American Medical Association, 2014). In Long Beach, 40.7 percent of children are overweight or obese and nearly half of Long Beach fifth graders are obese. These rates are higher than both LA County and the State of California. Obesity is more common in underserved neighborhoods with less access to healthy food options. Research shows that 40% of low-income 2-5-year-old kids in Long Beach are overweight or obese.

Sugary beverages contribute greatly to a child's risk of obesity. For each additional serving of sugary beverages a child drinks per day, their risk of becoming obese increases by 60% (Harvard School of Public Health) and the chance of severe cavities increases by 140%. Sugary drinks are the largest source of sugar in the American Diet and the largest source of calories in children's diets, making up nearly half of children's sugar intake. In Long Beach, nearly 50% of children consume at least one sugary beverage per day...

..Obesity costs taxpayers dollars

It is estimated that 21 percent of annual healthcare costs nationwide, or $190 billion are related to overweight and obesity-related health conditions. In Los Angeles County alone, overweight and obesity related healthcare costs total $3.6 million. 40 percent of these costs are paid through Medicaid and Medicare adding additional costs for taxpayers.

...Restaurants aren't doing enough to protect kids

Restaurants play a large role in children's diets. Data shows that 25% of kids calories come from fast food and other restaurants. Regionally 40% of children ate fast food twice within the last week.

...Local government's role in protecting kids

Local governments have the power and the obligation to protect the public health of their constituents. Providing water, milk and juice beverages under 60 calories at restaurants as a "default" choice before any sugary beverage, will help support parents and children to make healthier choices.

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Alternative beverages 60 calories and under

Additional beverages under 60 calories include 100% pure juices given in portions of 8-12 fl oz. per day for children (American Heart ASsociation,2009). Current studies show 100 % fruit juice are filled with nutrients, vitamins and minerals. These types of vitamins include Vitamin A,Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D,potassium, thiamin, folate and many more.

Healthy First Choice Policy

...Purpose of this policy and how it works

The purpose of this policy is to reduce the number of sugary beverages Long Beach children consume at restaurants by offering water, milk or 100 % pure juice beverages under 60 calories as the "default" choice in place a sugary beverage. All Long Beach restaurants that offer a bundled kid's meal would make water, milk or 100% pure juice the "default" option, switching out any sugary beverages and replacing them with tap or bottled water, any kind of milk (low fat, skim, full fat; dairy, soy, flavored, etc.) that is less than 130 calories per serving and 100 % pure juices with no artificial sweeteners or additives.

Parents will still have the option to choose other beverages such as soda upon request, however behavioral economic research has shown that people are more likely to choose the "default" option rather than selecting an alternative. Of the 1300 restaurants in Long Beach, 200 will need to make this change. It is important to note the policy does not prohibit any individual from purchasing a sugary beverage, nor does it prevent any restaurant from selling a sugary beverage.

Enforcement. Education. and Incentives

The Department of Health and Human Services will enforce this policy through their Environmental Inspection Bureau via administration citations. In addition to enforcement measures, nonprofit partner organizations are currently seeking grant funding for an education and outreach campaign in order to promote the ordinance to both parents and restaurants.

Conclusion

...Other restaurants and cities that have taken positive steps plus their result, previous work of LB/how this aligns with HHS's work, list of supporters Similar policies have been enacted by private corporations including The Walt Disney Company, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, Jack in the Box, Dairy Queen and Applebee's. Other chains that choose not to push sugary drinks include Panera, Chipotle and Arby's.California cities such as Stockton, Perris, and the County of Santa Clara have already implemented similar policies with positive results. This also aligns with the priorities and work of "Healthy Active Long Beach" within the Health and Human Services Department.

Fiscal Impact:

No fiscal impact

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Amnesia File: May 2015 Council Resoution Supporting "Meatless Mondays"

On May 19, 2015, the City Council voted 7-2 (Mungo, Supernaw dissenting) to support an item agendized by Councilman Austin (joined by Councilmembers Gonzalez and Price) that asked the City Attorney to prepare a non-binding resolution supporting "Meatless Mondays" which sparked a large volume of public comment on social networks and emails, primarily on grounds that a person's food choice isn't City Hall's business, and the Council has more important issues to address. The item returned on June 2, 2015 for a Council enacting vote and carried on the same 7-2 split.

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Councilman Austin said he agendized the "Meatless Monday" item as a way to "raise awareness and add to the dialogue" on the issue and said it is important to Long Beach, which has the highest rate of childhood obesity in California, and childhood obesity has lifelong health impacts including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some types of cancer. Councilman Austin noted that other city governments (including Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco) had adopted similar resolutions. "If even for one day a week, people think a little bit more about what they are eating, and consider trying new healthier menu options, then this resolution will have accomplished its purpose," Councilman Austin said, and credited a constituent for bringing the Meatless Monday campaign to his attention.

Co-author Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, whose 1st district is impacted by health-impacting pollution from the nearby Port of Long Beach and 710 freeway and whose constituents endure a disproportionate number of shootings compared to most other LB Council districts, cited obesity and a UN Food and Agriculture Organization claim that the "the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change" and "totals more than the emissions from transportation alone."

"Meatless Monday" co-author Councilwoman Suzie Price added, "Studies have led to lots of policies and initiatives over the years that are embraced by local government. Smoking laws and prohibitions, restrictions, snack offerings at schools promoting healthy snack options for children. This is just another opportunity to raise awareness within our city and to encourage our residents to think about their lifestyles, their welfare, their future health, and really to take it as an opportunity to choose, if they want, to try something different on Mondays. Why not give it a shot? Thank you Councilman Austin for bringing this forward."

Councilman Uranga commended his colleagues for bringing the item forward and said, "It's obvious that many studies show that meat can be very harmful to one's health and having one day out of the week to stay away from eating meat products is I think commendable."

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