A study indicates Berkeley’s ‘healthy checkout’ ordinance has lowered soda and small-pack candy sales in supermarkets, yet overall candy sales remain unchanged. Experts highlight enforcement and complementary measures needed for broader impact.
Berkeley’s experiment with a “healthy checkout” rule appears to be doing more than changing what shoppers see at the till. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health and the University of California, Davis found the city’s ordinance was associated with lower soda sales and fewer small-pack candy purchases in supermarkets, though it did not reduce total candy sales across all store types. The findings, published in The Lancet Public Health, add to earlier research showing the policy sharply improved the nutritional profile of products displayed at checkouts.
The ordinance, introduced in March 2021 and enforced from 1 January 2022, was designed to remove sugary drinks and snacks from prime checkout space, where eye-level placement and bright packaging are meant to trigger impulse buys. Researchers analysed scanner data from 71 stores in Berkeley and three comparison cities , Davis, Oakland and Sacramento , covering sales from March 2019 through December 2023. They found the clearest effect in supermarkets, which had the strongest compliance, while drugstores, where compliance was weakest, showed little or no drop in sales of sugary products.
The study also suggests the policy may have nudged some shoppers towards healthier alternatives. Sales of lower-sugar items such as snack-sized nuts and seeds rose, even as overall candy sales edged up after the policy first took effect. The researchers said that distinction matters: the rule targets what appears at checkout, but it does not stop retailers from moving the same products elsewhere in the store or promoting them through seasonal displays. Earlier work by the same research group found a 70% reduction in added sugar in checkout foods and beverages in Berkeley after the ordinance was introduced.
Public health researchers say the Berkeley results are relevant well beyond one California city, particularly as more local governments consider similar rules. Justin White, the study’s co-lead author, said healthy checkout policies can curb impulsive purchases, but only if cities enforce them consistently. Jennifer Falbe, the senior author, said checkout rules alone will not fix the food system and should be paired with other measures, such as front-of-pack labelling, sugary drink taxes and subsidies for healthier foods. The US Food and Drug Administration is already weighing a mandatory front-of-pack labelling rule, which the researchers say could make it easier for stores and inspectors to identify products that should not be placed in high-traffic spots like checkout lanes.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
