Mayor Bloomberg takes aim at bodega junk food as he ramps up his ...

by: Erin Durkin

July 19, 2012

---

Now it?s junk food in Mayor Bloomberg?s cross-hairs.

Hizzoner is expanding his anti-obesity crusade by scrapping the snacks that line bodega shelves ? while taking a softer approach to his move to ban big soda.

Unlike his push to outlaw large sodas, Bloomberg is asking store owners to voluntarily give healthy foods prime space in their shops.

The Shop Healthy program announced Wednesday asks for changes in stores in two Bronx neighborhoods ? Fordham and West Farms ? where almost 70% of adults are overweight or obese. ?This is important work to tackle the epidemic of obesity. We need to do it on multiple fronts,? said Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs.

Eighty of the 170 bodegas and supermarkets in the area have signed on.

They agreed to display fruits and vegetables at the front of the store or by the cash register, put water and low-calorie drinks in coolers at eye level instead of sugary soda, and remove ads from the door.

They?ll also stock low-sodium canned goods and city-certified ?healthy snacks,? promote a healthy sandwich deal at the deli counter and put up signs on shelves identifying healthy foods.

Other stores in the neighborhood won?t be forced to participate and there are no financial incentives to join, but officials suggested they?d get the hard sell.

?We like to think of it as they haven?t said yes yet,? Gibbs said.

It?s the latest sign of Mayor Bloomberg?s obsession with the city?s collective waist line, following his move to ban soda and other sugary drinks over 16 ounces from restaurants, street carts, and movie theaters.

Before that, he banned trans-fat and forced chain restaurants to post calorie counts next to menu items.

Radame Perez, 35, whose family owns a C-Town on Crescent Ave., said he?s always stocked plenty of produce, but moved vegetables closer to the front of the store under the city initiative. ?It makes good business sense. Fresh produce sells,? he said.

The city is also launching an ad campaign called Cut the Junk at bus stops and subways, targeted at food stamp users, to trash fast food in favor of inexpensive healthy meals.

Source: http://theharlemtimes.com/metro/mayor-bloomberg-takes-aim-at-bodega-junk-food-as-he-ramps-up-his-anti-obesity-campaign?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mayor-bloomberg-takes-aim-at-bodega-junk-food-as-he-ramps-up-his-anti-obesity-campaign

the voice season 2 ron paul maine safe house jay z and beyonce baby cpac powell the last lecture