Berkeley City Council Approves Nation’s First Healthy Checkout Policy for Grocery Stores

Consumers in Berkeley, Calif., scored a major victory with the passage of the nation’s first healthy checkout policy requiring grocery stores to offer more nutritious food and beverages in the checkout aisle. The historic vote was taken by the Berkeley City Council last night.

The new policy, which applies to retailers with more than 2,500 square feet, outlines that food must be in the following categories: chewing gum and mints with no added sugars, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, yogurt, cheese, and whole grains. Beverages must have no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners, and food items are restricted to no more than 5 grams of added sugars and 200 milligrams of sodium per serving. 

Contact Info:  Katherine Shek (kshek[at]cspinet.org)