On Oct 9, 2018, the Loma Linda City Council made history by passing unanimously a vote to support the Healthy-by-Default Kid's Meal bill.
SB 1192, or the Healthy-By-Default Kid’s Meal bill has been signed by Governor Brown into a state law and will become effective in Jan 2019. The bill requires all restaurants which serve Kid’s Meal to provide water and milk instead of sugary drink as the default drink. The bill is part of the nationwide effort to reduce the obesity and diabetes epidemic that threatens the health of our nation, particularly our children, as statistics have provided strong evidence linking sugary drinks to obesity and diabetes, and that that the number of children and teens who are obese or at risk of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. Each serving of sugary drink per day by a child increases his risk of being obese by 60% when s/he becomes an adult
Nine cities and 2 counties in the state of California have demonstrated their support to reduce sugary drinks among children by enacting ordinance and resolution to support the bill. However, no city in the San Bernardino County had yet to do it.
But on Oct 9, the city of Loma Linda made history. The city legislators listened to the voices of parents in their constituencies and agreed that the healthy choice should always be the easy choice for our children when they eat out with their parents. They agreed that restaurants are to be encouraged to always serve healthy drinks such as water instead of sugar-loaded drink to our kids.
The resolution made by Loma Linda on Oct 9 is historic as it places the city ahead of the game. Loma Linda now becomes the first city in the San Bernardino County to make an official stand to support a state bill that protects the health of our children. The resolution signals that the bill has grassroots support.