This policy updates the current policy to create and foster an environment that ensures access to healthy foods as defined in the Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities and meets Fitwel designation standards for Food Services.
The policy applies to:
Council approval: October 21, 2011, Council Action 2011A-0757
Last revised: November 16, 2018, Council Action 2018A-0922
The City of Minneapolis is committed to creating and fostering an environment where all employees, visitors, and partners will have access to healthy food and beverage choices.
Poor nutrition contributes to diet related chronic conditions, including diabetes and obesity. This policy supports the City’s own goals where healthy choices are easy and economical, while demonstrating a commitment to the health of all City partners, contractors, and visitors.
It is the policy of the City of Minneapolis to support efforts to reduce the availability of low nutrient food choices, to increase healthy choice options, and to promote a healthy food environment.
This policy applies to 1) City employees who have the authority to use City resources to procure food; 2) Contracted individuals and organizations who have the authority to procure foods using City resources; 3) Any vendor (business or individual) who provides or sells food in City of Minneapolis buildings, including vending machine and food service operators.
The Wellness Committee, in partnership with the Department of Health, is authorized to develop and maintain procedures to implement and support this policy and is in alignment with the Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities 1, which is based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
In 2014, the City of Minneapolis adopted goals and strategic directions to guide its work, and this includes the goal that we are focused on the well-being of people and the environment. This policy will support the health of City employees, visitors, and partners by improving access to healthy food and beverage choices including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and items lower in saturated fat, sugar and sodium.
To establish a City-wide system under which employees, food service providers (concessions and vending) and contracted partners are authorized to follow the healthy food policy.
The following procedures have been developed to support the Healthy Foods Policy that was approved by Minneapolis City Council. They apply to:
Settings covered by the City of Minneapolis Healthy Food Policy:
All employees of the City of Minneapolis have important roles to ensure the compliance with the Healthy Foods Policy and must perform the responsibilities as outlined below in accordance with the procedures developed for this policy.
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
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Employees |
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City of Minneapolis Wellness Committee |
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Health Department |
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“Food Service Contract Holder” |
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Department Heads |
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All vending machines located in City owned buildings and facilities will offer 75% healthy options as defined by the Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations.
The following guidelines are to be followed by vendors providing food and beverage vending services to City of Minneapolis:
Beverage Vending
This policy applies to all meetings and events in which City funds are used to procure food for City employees or community members. Employees and contractors with the authority to use City funds to procure food for meetings and events should ensure that healthy options are readily available and unhealthy options are limited at all meetings and events. Please follow as many of the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans criteria below to ensure that healthy foods are available:
Employees using own funds for department events or celebrations are highly encouraged, but not required, to follow these guidelines.
All contracted food service concessions will provide healthy choices in City of Minneapolis properties in accordance with the Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending operations. Policy language will be added to food service contracts at the time of their renewal.
1. Food Service Guidelines Federal Workgroup. Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities. Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2017.↩
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