City Council
MEETING DATE: 10/25/2017
TITLE:
Title
Healthy Default Beverages in Kid's Meals
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council introduce and provide first reading to an ordinance requiring restaurants offering children's meals to provide, as a default beverage, milk or water.
Body
BACKGROUND:
MPT Pettis requested a discussion item on the topic of requiring restaurants offering kid's meals to provide, as a default beverage, a non-sugared drink such as milk or water. On August 23, 2017 Council discussed the topic in study session and asked staff to solicit input from the Chamber of Commerce and to prepare an ordinance for future consideration.
DISCUSSION:
Some jurisdictions have adopted ordinances requiring restaurants offering kid's meals to provide, as a default beverage, a non-sugared drink such as milk or water. An ordinance along these lines was discussed during the study session on August 23, 2017.
Public health, specifically fighting childhood obesity, is typically cited as the public policy reason for such an ordinance.
As requested by Council, the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of their restaurant members. The survey was completed by 40 restaurants. Of the 40 who responded, twenty indicated that they offer a kid's meal that includes a drink. Of the twenty offering a kid's meal all twenty indicated that their current offering includes a sugary drink. All twenty also answered affirmatively that they would be willing to substitute a sugar-free drink such as milk or water. The survey summary is attached.
An ordinance has been prepared for introduction and first reading containing the following provisions:
A. A restaurant that sells a children's meal that includes a beverage shall make the default beverage offered with the children's meal one of the following:
(1) Water, sparkling water, or flavored water, with no add...
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