STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1257

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 65

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 65 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING FOOD SERVICE FACILITIES IN THE STATE THAT OFFER A CHILDREN'S MENU OF MEAL OPTIONS, OR A MEAL THAT IS REPRESENTED AS A CHILDREN'S MEAL, TO SERVE CHILDREN'S MEALS WITH HIGHER NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND INCLUDE ONLY BOTTLED WATER OR LOW-FAT MILK AS THE DEFAULT BEVERAGE IN THE MEAL OR MENU OPTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage food service facilities in the State that offer a children's menu of meal options, or a meal that is represented as a children's meal, to serve children's meals with higher nutritional quality and include only bottled water or low-fat milk as the default beverage in the meal or menu option.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Public Health Institute, American Heart Association, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that in 2013 and 2014, the Childhood Obesity Journal and the National Restaurant Association indicated that more people are likely to select the default option included in a meal price or menu option rather than request an alternative, and seventy-two percent of customers said that they would be more likely to visit a restaurant that offers healthful default options.  Furthermore, evidence suggests that children and adolescents who reduce their sugary beverage intake experience significant decreases in weight gain and fat deposits, which reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 65 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair