Table 1. Examples of local innovations in prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the United States of America.
| Policy innovation and example | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Information disclosure | ||
| Calorie labelling rules | Restaurant chains and food retailers in New York city must disclose calorie counts on menu boards for standard menu items | New York City Health Code §81.50 (2017) |
| Soda warning rule | Billboards advertising sugar-sweetened drinks in San Francisco city must contain a health warning about the impact of added sugars on obesity, diabetes and tooth decay | San Francisco Health Code art. 42 §4203(a) (2015) |
| Haemoglobin A1C registry | New York city’s health code makes glycated haemoglobin (a measure of blood sugar control) a reportable condition by pathology laboratories. The registry helps to identify patients with poorly controlled diabetes or who need follow-up care | New York City Health Code §13.07 (2006) |
| Marketing restrictions | ||
| School advertising law | Maine was the first state to prohibit brand-specific advertising of food or beverages in school buildings or on school grounds | Title 20-A Maine Rev. Stat. Ann §6662 (2007) |
| Healthy food incentives ordinance | Fast-food restaurants in San Francisco city are prohibited from providing free toys in children’s meals | San Francisco Health Code art. 8 §§471.1 to 471.9 (2011) |
| Taxation | ||
| Sugar-sweetened beverage tax | The city of Berkeley was the first jurisdiction in the country to impose an excise tax of 1 cent per ounce on sugar-sweetened drinks | Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 7.72 (2014) |
| Sugar-sweetened beverage tax | Philadelphia was the first major city to levy a tax of 1.5 cents per ounce on sugar-sweetened drinks and to earmark tax revenue for improvements to parks, libraries and recreation centres | Philadelphia Code §§19–4101 to 4108 (2016) |
| Built environment: zoning | ||
| Urban agriculture incentives | California State’s Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act reduces property taxes for landowners who enter a contract to permit small-scale agriculture or animal husbandry for at least 5 years on vacant lands | Cal Govt Code §51042 (2017 |
| Ordinance to control prevalence of fast-food outlets | The city of Los Angeles limits new fast-food restaurants in areas with an over-concentration of fast-food outlets | L.A. Cal. Ordinance 180103 (2008) |
§: section; §§: sections.