London Mayor Bans Fast-Food Chains Near Schools

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced this week his plan to ban the opening of new fast-food restaurants within 400 meters (one-quarter mile) of existing or planned primary and secondary schools. Khan’s “London Plan”—a guide that will be published later this week—will also require that all new restaurants serving pizza, fish and chips, and chicken meet minimum healthy food standards before opening near schools. “I am using all of my powers through my new London Plan,” Khan told media outlet Evening Standard, “to prevent new [fast-food restaurants] from being built just down the road from schools as part of a package of measures to tackle the ticking time bomb of childhood obesity and help us all lead healthier lives.” Statewide, several school districts have recently implemented programs—with a focus on plant-based nutrition—to help control the childhood obesity epidemic. In California, the Los Angeles Unified School District is currently testing a vegan lunch pilot program at seven local schools, while New York Mayor Bill de Blasio—with the help of vegan Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams—instituted Meatless Mondays at 15 NYC schools in October.