Berkeley becomes 1st in CA to ban junk food from grocery checkouts with 'healthy checkout' ordinance

By Julian Glover - ABC 7 News


https://i.imgur.com/ImOEwQ6.png

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Berkeley is set to become the first city in the state -- and possibly the nation-- to pass an ordinance removing foods high in sugar and sodium from the checkout line at grocery stores.

The Berkeley City Council unanimously passed the "healthy checkout" ordinance Tuesday night.

The measure is set to take effect in March 2021, with enforcement beginning Jan 2022.

"We're not saying you can't have these goods. We're just saying they're not going to be right at the eye level of your children when they walk into the store and you're waiting in that long line at check out," said District 3 Council Member Kate Harrison.

Starting in March, only items with 5 grams of added sugar or less and contain less than 250 milligrams of sodium per serving will be allowed at the checkout aisle.

Think protein bars instead of candy bars and no-sugar-added juice instead of soda.

"We know that people that eat a lot of high-sugar and salty products have worse health outcomes and this particularly besets low income communities and people of color," Harrison said.

While some are in favor of the move others question if there needs to be greater education.

"Part of it is not giving people a false sense of accomplishing something where really the issue could be community education, making sure kids in schools are eating correctly and have access to food," said Joseph Azam. "That stuff matters more to me than rearranging groceries at the checkout stand."

Berkeley was the first in the nation to pass a soda tax in 2014.

That's actually a good idea. Most people grab junk food from the checkout shelves on impulse. Nobody in their right mind is gonna reach for healthy shit, so it's gonna save people a lot of money over time. :tup:

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Originally Posted by DemonGeminiX

That's actually a good idea. Most people grab junk food from the checkout shelves on impulse. Nobody in their right mind is gonna reach for healthy shit, so it's gonna save people a lot of money over time. :tup:

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So....you're a Biden voter :-k

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Originally Posted by Teh One Who Knocks

So....you're a Biden voter :-k

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No, I'm a fiscally-conservative-minded Libertarian-Constitutionalist with shitty impulse control.

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Originally Posted by DemonGeminiX

No, I'm a fiscally-conservative-minded Libertarian-Constitutionalist with shitty impulse control.

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The Nanny State is not the way to counter your lack of impulse control :nono:

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Originally Posted by Teh One Who Knocks

The Nanny State is not the way to counter your lack of impulse control :nono:

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You can still buy the junk. They're not banning it from stores completely. You just have to walk down an extra aisle to get the junk you want.

>forcing businesses to put a certain product in a certain place
the libertarian in me is disappoint

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DemonGeminiX

That's actually a good idea. Most people grab junk food from the checkout shelves on impulse. Nobody in their right mind is gonna reach for healthy shit, so it's gonna save people a lot of money over time. :tup:

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They keep it within reach so that people don't starve to death while waiting in one of the few open checkout lanes.

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Originally Posted by Griffin

They keep it within reach so that people don't starve to death while waiting in one of the few open checkout lanes.

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Self checkout FTW

Im disappointed in you DGX

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Originally Posted by PorkChopSandwiches

Im disappointed in you DGX

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[-(

I'm only human... with shitty impulse control.

How is having a bunch of moldy food right where people checkout gonna be healthier?

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Originally Posted by Griffin

They keep it within reach so that people don't starve to death while waiting in one of the few open checkout lanes.

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I've seen insane thread on this in another forum. At last a sensible suggestion.

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Originally Posted by DemonGeminiX

No, I'm a fiscally-conservative-minded Libertarian-Constitutionalist with shitty impulse control.

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Now DGX, why should good americans with impulse control have to walk to get their candy because of your weakness. Control your own behaviour and not others, thanks :tapfoot:

I'm never going to Berkeley and California's lost. Let them ride it down into the toilet. It's gonna sink into the Pacific after the big one hits sooner or later anyway.