The Only 12 Cities in the US with Obesity Rates under 25%
Credit By John Harrington NewsBreak 12/29/2023
Many of our metros are now over 40%-data from 2023 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.
*In 2012, no state had an adult obesity rate over 35%.
Among the cities that are under 25%, are San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA.
Let’s look at what the city of Berkeley does to advance our food system, and work towards the Biden White House goal of reducing diet-related diseases by 2030.
UC Berkeley offers Edible Education-The members of the community explore facets of food systems.
Edible Education is available to the public free on-line. (I completed last year’s Spring Course)
It is hosted by Will Rosenzweig, with guest speakers including- Alice Waters, Marion Nestle, Michael Pollan, Elizabeth Hoover, Christiopher Gardner, Sara Jayaraman, Dr. Kristine Madsen, Alana Siegner, Ryan Peterson, Elaine Hsu, Mas Masumoto, Paul Rice, Alison Lingane.
PLANT BASED NEWS-Berkeley Becomes First US City to Phase Out All Animal Products It Serves-By Jemina Weber July 28, 2021. Berkeley city council announced plans to decrease the animal-based food products it serves by 50%, and replace them with plant-based options by 2024.
CHECKOUT AISLES-October 6, 2020 By nycfoodpolicy.org
Policy Name: Healthy Checkout Ordinance, Overview-stores will be banned from selling items in checkout aisles that contain more than five grams of added sugars or 200 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Checkout is defined as those accessible to customers within three feet of a cash register.
Stores must offer healthier items at these checkout aisles.
SODA TAX-Credit Berkeley Public Health. By Austin Price August 24, 2019
“Consumption in Berkeley had dropped by 21% a year after the soda tax was levied. Three years later, Berkeleyans were drinking half the amount of soda as they did before the tax (and consuming 29% more water.”
Berkeley is still working out the fee details to incorporate Micro Home Restaurants
What city could be next on the list? San Jose. Credit SPUR News 11/129/2023
They are working on establishing “The 15-Minute Neighborhood.”
“Residents will be able to access essential, everyday services just a short walk or bike ride from home.”
PHOENIX, the 2025 Food Policy wants all residents to have access to healthier choice foods within a 1/4 mile of their homes.
The Micro Home Restaurant or MEHKO, offers this opportunity.
Micro Home Restaurants have been so successful in California that new legislation passed AB1325 in 2023, which expanded limits from 60 to 90 meals a week and raised the gross annual sales cap from $50K to $100 K.
“The legislation also clarified the definition of a “meal” granting MEHKOs statewide freedom to sell individual items like beverages and desserts and removing the hurdle faced by dessert-focused home cooks who had difficulty obtaining a MEHKO permit in certain jurisdictions.”
Additionally, major steps are moving forward to permit MEHKO’s in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, and unanimous approval by Santa Clara County board of Supervisors.
Credit-Roya Bagheri Executive Director COOK Alliance 12/21/2023 https://www.cookalliance.org
*Chef Michael Garahan, American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef has been a member of the COOK Alliance since its inception. http://www.acfchefs.org
