Food retail policies impose restrictions on product placement, product marketing, and product price promotions, as well as limitations on the types of products offered. These policies are designed to create healthier retail environments, induce purchases of more healthful products, and improve dietary intake. Examples of retail policies include restrictions on products placed at food store checkout aisles and restrictions placed on default beverages offered with kids’ meals at restaurants, where products must meet specific nutritional standards.
Study Summaries
Evaluation of Perris Healthy Checkout
Policy Effective Date: July 1, 2023 Purpose: To assess changes in the availability and healthfulness of food and beverage products placed at store checkouts after the implementation of a policy, that set nutrition standards for checkout products. Methods: Researchers collected data on products placed at store checkouts using a photograph-based audit tool and assessed the nutritional content of food and beverage products before and after the implementation of the policy. Location: Perris, California Research Leads: University of California, Davis, and University of Illinois Chicago
Evaluation of New Orleans Healthy Beverage Default Ordinance
Policy Effective Date: January 1, 2023 Purpose: Assess compliance with a policy that restricts default beverage offerings included in kids’ meals to healthier beverages (i.e., water, milk, and 100% juice). Methods: Researchers collected data on kids’ meal beverage offerings from chain restaurant online ordering platforms before and after the policy went into effect. Location: New Orleans (intervention) and Baton Rouge (comparison), Louisiana Research Leads: University of Illinois Chicago, Tulane, and Xavier Universities
Evaluation of the Illinois Healthy Beverage Default Act
Policy Effective Date: January 1, 2022 Purpose: To assess changes in the types of default beverages offered with kids’ meals at fast-food restaurants and compliance following implementation of a policy limiting options to water, low-fat or non-fat milk, and 100% juice. Methods: Researchers collected data from online and physical menus at restaurants before and after the policy’s implementation. Location: Illinois (intervention) and Wisconsin (comparison) Research Leads: University of Illinois Chicago
Evaluation of Berkeley Healthy Checkout Ordinance
Policy Effective Date: March 1, 2021 Purpose: To assess changes in the availability and healthfulness of food and beverage products placed at store checkouts after the implementation of a policy, which set nutrition standards for checkout products. Methods: Researchers collected data on products placed at store checkouts using a photograph-based audit tool and assessed nutritional content of the food and beverage products before and after the implementation of the policy. Location: Berkeley, California (intervention) and three other California cities (comparison) Research Leads: University of California, Davis, and University of Illinois Chicago
