The City's Department of Health and the Mayor's Office of Food Policy updated the New York City Food Standards for Meals and Snacks Purchased and Served, first passed in 2008. The updated standards will take effect July 1, 2026, and will impact more than one million New Yorkers and 219 million meals and snacks across schools, hospitals, adult care, city inmates and other municipal programs. The rules expand restrictions on low- and no-calorie sweeteners from children to all ages and remove diet soda and food dyes from city-provided menus. The changes aim to reduce obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease by increasing access to healthy foods. Mayor Eric Adams framed the standards as a step toward improving public health and cited his own shift to a plant-based diet after being pre-diabetic.
New York City is changing the menus at public schools, hospitals, and day programs for seniors to include more nutrition and remove diet soda and food dyes. The changes impact 11 municipal agencies serving residents. Photo via Getty Images New York City is changing the menus at public schools, hospitals, and day programs for seniors to include more nutrition and remove diet soda and food dyes. The changes impact 11 municipal agencies serving residents.
Diet sodas are an example of a food with low- or no-calorie sweeteners, ingredients which were already been banned for anyone age 18 and younger, said Elizabeth Solomon, executive director for nutrition policies and programs at the New York City Department of Health. We're expanding the ban on low- or no-calorie sweeteners to food and beverages served to all ages.
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