NYC Center for Economic Opportunity

The Office of the Food Policy Coordinator was established by Mayor Bloomberg in January of 2007. The Food Policy Coordinator is responsible for convening the Food Policy Taskforce and coordinating the efforts of City agencies to improve access to healthy food.

Problem Statement
Low-income communities have higher rates of obesity and more deaths due to diabetes and heart disease than more affluent neighborhoods. The lack of supermarkets, limited food selection at bodegas, and prevalence of fast food establishments often contribute to the paucity of healthy food options in poor neighborhoods. Many families in low-income communities struggle to afford the food they need, and calorie dense foods that contribute to obesity are typically most affordable. The City's hunger prevention efforts have not historically been integrated with efforts to promote healthy eating.

Research & Evidence
According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), obesity and diabetes are epidemic in New York City. About 18% of adults and 24% of school children are obese in New York City, and diabetes rates have doubled in the past decade. Approximately 31% of adults in East Harlem and 27% in Central Harlem are obese, compared to only 9% of adults on the Upper East Side. Cutting calories and fat helps reduce the risk of chronic health problems.

The City serves approximately 217 million meals and snacks per year through its schools, hospitals, jails, senior meals, and other programs. City agencies are committed to improving the quality of meals served and are working with DOHMH to develop new standards for City meals. These standards will include requiring City agencies to eliminate all deep-fried foods and to serve exclusively 1 % and skim milk.

Program Description
In November 2006, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced the formation of a new Food Policy Task Force and the position of Food Policy Coordinator to focus and expand the City's efforts to provide food assistance and access to healthy foods. The Food Policy Coordinator (FPC) reports to The Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and collaborates with advocates and service providers. The FPC has already advanced the work of a dozen committed City agencies, such as the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Education, the Human Resources Administration, Department of Corrections, Department for the Aging, and the Health and Hospitals Corporation.

The Task Force identified several priorities: (1) Increasing access to food support programs (2) Making the food that the City serves healthier; (3) Promoting healthy food retail access and demand.

On September 19, 2008, Mayor Bloomberg signed Executive Order No. 122 which formally established the Food Policy Coordinator position and directed the Coordinator to pursue the 3 priorities described above.

Key Accomplishments

1. City Agency Food Standards: Executive Order 122 formally established the authority of the Food Policy Coordinator and the DOHMH Commissioner to establish City Agency Food Standards which regulate the food served by City Agencies as well as contractors that serve food in City funded programs. The standards focus on targeted nutritional goals to improve health outcomes and reduce the prevalence of obesity and diet related disease.
   
2. The Green Carts Initiative: Through legislation signed into law on March 13, 2008, the City established 1,000 new permits for "Green Carts." These mobile food carts sell fruits and vegetables and must be located in neighborhoods where consumption of fruits and vegetables is low. Through a $1.5 million grant from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, the initiative also includes an array of supports to help vendors succeed in their new businesses.
   
3. Increased utilization of the summer meals program: Working across agencies, and closely with the Office of School Food, the City has achieved a 12% increase in meals served from the summer of 2006 to the summer of 2008. Efforts have included mailings to all food stamp recipients, as well as opening of summer meals sites at libraries and soup kitchens.
   
4. Breakfast in the Classroom: Working closely with the Department of Education's Office of School Food, the City has created the Breakfast in the Classroom project to expand participation in school breakfast among low income students. Participation in school breakfast has historically been low both because it is challenging for students to get to the cafeteria before school starts, and because there is a social stigma associated with eating breakfast in the cafeteria. Serving breakfast in the classroom overcomes these barriers, and most teachers report that it improves student behavior and attention span in the classroom. The City is gradually expanding the program, and it is now operating in more than 100 schools.
   
5. The Food Policy Coordinator is a co-coordinator of the Nutritional Enhancement for Elders through Data Sharing (NEEDS) program, which creates an easy food stamp enrollment process for seniors who are already receiving housing benefits from the City. The City's Human Resources Administration (HRA) received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create this program in partnership with the City's Department for the Aging and the Food Bank for New York City.
   

Target Population
Low income New Yorkers with limited access to healthy foods. The Food Policy Coordinator (FPC) works with City agencies and other stakeholders to coordinate food policy efforts.

Expected Outcomes
Long-Term:

• Positive changes in dietary behaviors of low income New Yorkers.
  
• Collaboration among agencies to combat food insecurity, obesity and diabetes.
  
• Increased percentage of eligible New Yorkers participating in Food Stamps and School Meals programs
  
• Increased number of supermarkets and fresh produce retailers in low income neighborhoods.