On Wednesday, May 19th, CCR’s Senior Policy Analyst Juanita Winston testified before the Council of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Human Services in support of the Nutrition Equity Amendment Act of 2021. Given the mounting calls for federal, state, and local legislative action to address longstanding health inequities in Black and Brown communities, the Nutrition Equity Amendment Act of 2021 comes at an opportune time as a targeted policy solution to curb consumption of products that lead to poor nutritional outcomes among the most vulnerable populations. Excess consumption of added sugars, especially from sugary drinks, pose a grave threat to the health of children, adolescents and adults in the District of Columbia, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities, where diabetes rates are 4 to 5 times higher than in more affluent, whiter areas of the city. The legislation would also address additional critical health equity issues by improving access to healthy food environments and nutrition education for all District residents. Additional funding would also support community-based organizations and black-owned businesses focused on healthy eating and living in DC.
