A big breakthrough is community efforts to counter the food industry marketing of obesity! Today the New York City Board of Health barred any establishment with a food-service license from serving sugary beverages in cups or bottles larger than 16 ounces. This included fast-food places, delis, movie and Broadway theaters, the concession stands at Yankee Stadium and the pizzerias of Little Italy. No other U.S. city has gone so far as to restrict portion sizes at restaurants to fight weight gain.
The restrictions do not apply to supermarkets or most convenience stores, because such establishments are not subject to Board of Health regulation. And there are exceptions for beverages made mostly of milk or unsweetened fruit juice.
The regulations follow other ambitious health moves on Bloomberg’s watch, many of which were attacked as a push toward a “nanny state.”
Yet some have proved to be national trendsetters, such as making chain restaurants post calories on their menus. The city has also barred artificial trans fats in french fries and other restaurant food, cracked down on smoking and promoted breast-feeding over formula.
