January 25, 2022
City Council
DATE: January 25, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin
Subject:
Healthy Options at Point of Sale
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to receive the report. Any financial impacts related to policy options will be brought to City Council for consideration.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Richmond currently has a Health in All Policies Framework of which this policy aligns.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
In Richmond, unhealthy food and beverages are
promoted repeatedly throughout stores. Over the past
two years, HOPS youth advocates assessed the food
retail landscape and heard from residents. HOPS youth
advocates want to present to the City Council their
findings and policy options.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a report on research conducted by Healthy
Options at Points of Sale (HOPS) youth advocates; and
DIRECT staff to draft an ordinance to be considered by
the Council within 60 days requiring large retail stores to stock healthier checkout items – Councilmember Gayle
McLaughlin (510-620-6636).
DISCUSSION:
AGENDA
REPORT
January 25, 2022
In Richmond, unhealthy food and beverages are promoted repeatedly throughout stores. Snacks high in salt, saturated fat, and added sugars dominate checkout aisles, which are designed to prompt impulse purchases. Such curated food environments in largely low income communities of color have been shown to contribute to health issues such as dental cavities, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes; these especially impacts families. 1 in 2 children of color in the US will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in their lifetime (Attachment 1).
Over the past two years, HOPS youth advocates assessed the food retail landscape and heard from residents. HOPS youth advocates want to present to the City Council their findings and policy options. HOPS youth advocates want to bring the community together and change these numbers by including more healthy foods such as fruits and nuts.
In 2020, the Berkeley City Council unanimously passed a Healthy Checkout Ordinance https://hco-berkeley.org/ with large retail stores in Berkeley having to replace junk foods, candy, and soda in checkout aisles with healthier items containing less added sugar and sodium. The City of Richmond can and should do similarly.
We, in the City of Richmond, are dedicated to health equity and currently have in place a Health in All Polices Framework. A Healthy Checkout Ordinance would be in-line with this framework.
Richmond can implement Healthy Checkout to promote and support the health of all residents!
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Healthy Retail Ed Packet
Attachment 2 – PowerPoint