No More Soda With Kids’ Meals in NYC?

August 28, 2018
NACS
Proposed legislation from the New York City Council will come before the council’s Health Committee this fall.
NEW YORK – A new bill is coming to the New York City Council this fall that would ban soda from fast food kids’ meals in an attempt to tackle childhood obesity. The proposed legislation would make water, milk or 100% fruit juice the “default beverage option” in all kids’ meals at restaurants.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos, isn’t an outright ban since it still allows parents and other consumers to order soda when placing their order. But it would still affect 24,000 restaurants in New York City, including QSRs such as Burger King and McDonald’s, according to the New York Post.
In 2014, New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s attempt to ban sales of large sodas at food establishments and movie theaters failed. But the upcoming bill has the support of the American Beverage Association.
Similar legislation in California passed this month. Senate Bill 1192, known as the “Healthy Kids’ Meal Bill” passed the California Assembly, making water and milk the default drink choice with kids’ meals. The bill will arrive on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk for signing. According to BeverageDaily.com, nine California jurisdictions, Baltimore and Louisville, Kentucky, already have passed healthy kids’ meal policies.