Swapping junk for healthy snacks: Berkeley welcomes first US checkout policy

24 Sep 2020 --- Junk foods will be replaced by healthier options in Berkeley, California, checkout aisles. The city secured the passage of a new US-first checkout policy requiring grocery stores to offer more nutritious food and beverage products in the checkout aisle as of January 1, 2021.

By changing checkout norms, it is anticipated that shoppers and their families will face less temptation to consume sugary foods and there will be less reinforcement of these unhealthy choices.

Consumers who want to purchase sugary drinks, candies, chips, and other sweet and salty snacks will continue to find these in their respective aisles in the center of stores – “where these items belong,” senior policy associate Ashley Hickson tells NutritionInsight. She works for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which co-led the policy campaign. 

“The measure in Berkeley is the first of its kind. All around the country, citizens are taking action to improve the health of their communities. Commonsense public health measures like this tend to spread quickly,” she outlines.

She further predicts that industry will “get the message” that consumers deserve healthier offerings as more communities enact similar measures. 

“As the target audience for food manufacturers, we believe what consumers want should be prioritized. Aside from the business benefits, food manufacturers have an important role in providing high quality, nutritious foods and beverages for consumers.” A proposed floor plan redirecting unhealthy F&B options away from checkout aisles.

What’s allowed on the checkout aisle?
The new policy called the Health Checkout Ordinance will exclude sugar-sweetened beverages and chips from the checkout aisle in favor of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy, whole grains and chewing gum and mints with no added sugars. 

This restricts the sale of beverages with added sugars or artificial sweeteners, as well as food items with more than 5 g of added sugars and 200 mg of sodium per labeled serving in the checkout aisle area.

The checkout area refers to any area that is accessible within a 3 ft distance of any register or waiting line area. 

The Healthy Checkout Ordinance details examples of healthy checkout items, such as Kind Bars, Chobani Less Sugar Greek Yogurts, Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn and Kids Organic Whole Grain Bites from Quaker.

As the policy applies to retailers with stores greater than 2,500 sq ft, its implications are set to impact approximately 25 stores in Berkeley, including Safeway, Whole Foods, CVS, Walgreens, Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market. 

City staff will provide technical assistance for implementation and a bi-annual review of qualifying F&B categories will be done by the Public Health Division. A selection of healthy alternatives to conventional snack foods listed in the Healthy Checkout Ordinance.

Combating racial and economic disparities
The policy move further aims to reduce health disparities in low-income households, especially considering that major health issues such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke “disproportionately affect African Americans and communities of color,” the Healthy Checkout Ordinance reads.

“On a national scale, racial and ethnic minorities experience diet-related disparities – diets high in fat and salt and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”

“Providing more nutritious options will benefit people of all backgrounds, but it will disproportionately benefit low-income communities and communities of color who are most affected by nutrition-related health issues,” the official policy document states.

In related findings on supermarkets influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions, a UK study from last year found that supermarket layouts, pricing strategies and shopping environments are worsening the obesity epidemic. 

Thirty-six percent of shoppers impulse buy unhealthy products on a special offer, and 20 percent say supermarkets cause them to go off track when attempting to lose weight.

By Anni Schleicher