Parents shopping with their children in Berkeley, California, can now breathe a sigh of relief when they get to the checkout lane. Likewise, Berkeley shoppers looking for an impulse snack purchase now have healthy options at the checkout.
In March 2021, Berkeley made history by becoming the world’s first city to implement a healthy checkout policy. This groundbreaking policy sets nutritional standards for store checkouts, ensuring that only healthy and nutritious options are available for customers. Following in Berkeley’s footsteps, Perris, a small city in Southern California, as well as the United Kingdom, have also adopted similar policies.
Under Berkeley’s healthy checkout policy, only specific products are allowed at the checkout. These include unsweetened beverages, healthy foods such as fruits, nuts, and whole grains with limited added sugar and sodium, as well as non-food items like lip balm, magazines, and batteries. This policy aims to promote healthier choices and reduce the availability of sugary and unhealthy snacks at the checkout.
Research conducted by the University of California, Davis, found that a significant improvement in the healthfulness of products at checkout occurred just one year after the policy was implemented. Before the policy, the majority of food and beverage products at checkout were unhealthy. However, after the policy, the percentage of healthy foods and beverages more than doubled, from 29% to 62%.
The checkout area of a store is a crucial space as it is where all customers must pass through to exit the store. This makes it a prime location for impulse buys, which is why setting nutritional standards for checkout items is so important. By ensuring that only healthy options are available at the checkout, customers are more likely to make better choices when making last-minute purchases.
Jennifer Falbe, the lead author of a study on the Berkeley policy, emphasized the significant improvements in the healthfulness of foods and beverages at store checkouts. She noted that large ultraprocessed food and beverage companies often pay for premium placement of their products at checkout, influencing consumer decisions. By implementing the healthy checkout policy, Berkeley has taken a proactive step towards promoting healthier choices for its residents.
The positive impact of Berkeley’s healthy checkout policy has been observed not only in the city itself but also in comparison cities without the ordinance. While Berkeley saw substantial improvements in the healthfulness of checkout items, the points of sale in comparison cities remained relatively unchanged. This highlights the effectiveness of implementing policies that prioritize health and nutrition in retail environments.
Overall, the healthy checkout policy in Berkeley has set a new standard for promoting healthier choices at the point of sale. By prioritizing nutritious options and limiting the availability of unhealthy snacks, Berkeley is leading the way in creating a healthier shopping environment for its residents. With the success of this policy, other cities and countries are now following suit, recognizing the importance of promoting health and wellness in retail settings.