Recent News

Baltimore bans sugary drinks from children's menus (cleveland.com)

Jul 19th, 2018

odas and other sugary drinks are no longer an option on children's menus in the city's restaurants after a new regulation went into effect on Wednesday, according to reports. 

Baltimore is the first major city in the U.S. to take the action, NBC News reports. Several smaller cities have passed similar ordinances.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Baltimore City Healthy Kids Meals Bill Becomes Law

Jul 18th, 2018

BALTIMORE, MD (July 18, 2018) — Today, the Baltimore City Healthy Beverages for Children’s Meals bill (C.B. 17-0152) officially takes effect in Baltimore. Water, milk, and 100% fruit juice are now the default beverage options for all kid’s meals offered at restaurants in the city.

Baltimore becomes first major city to remove sugary drinks from kids' menus (NBC News)

Jul 18th, 2018

Baltimore has become the first major city to prohibit restaurants from including sugary drinks on children's menus.

The measure, which went into effect on Wednesday, is intended to promote healthy habits in young children and their families by making the default kids' menu options water, milk and 100 percent fruit juices.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Baltimore law barring soda from kids’ meals takes effect (The Daily Record)

Jul 18th, 2018

A Baltimore law took effect Wednesday requiring restaurants to include non-sugary drinks as the default option in kids’ meals.

Baltimore is now the largest American city and the first on the East Coast to implement such a measure, which is aimed at improving city children’s health.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Baltimore Health Department honored as one of nation’s best (Baltimore Justice Report)

Jul 18th, 2018

The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) was named the 2018 Local Health Department of the Year by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The annual award recognizes local health departments for outstanding achievements in innovative public health and safety improvements.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wen

Baltimore City Health Department Named Local Health Department of the Year

Jul 17th, 2018

BALTIMORE (July 17, 2018) — The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) has been awarded the 2018 Local Health Department of the Year – Large Category from the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO).

NACCHO

Baltimore's Northeast Market closes after video shows rats inside, days after same problem at Lexington Market (Baltimore Sun)

Jul 17th, 2018

For the second time in less than a week, a viral video depicting vermin scampering about has led to the temporary closure of one of Baltimore’s public markets.

Read the entire story.

Rat video closes another Baltimore public market (The Daily Record)

Jul 17th, 2018

Northeast Market is the second of Baltimore’s public markets to close in a matter of days following video of a rat in the building being posted.

Read the entire story.

Nicholas Kristof's NYT Newsletter - A Guest Post

Jul 15th, 2018

Dr. Leana Wen fills in for Nicholas Kristof, guest authoring his New York Times newsletter and discussing the Trump administration's Conscience and Religious Freedom division in the Department of Health and Human Services.

"The ostensible aim is to protect the right of health care workers to opt out of procedures that they have religions objections to. The government issued regulations to expand that right so that all of the above scenarios could be justified based on the provider’s religious beliefs. There is now no requirement to inform the patient of why care is denied or to offer a referral to someone who can provide it."

Read the entire piece. 

Leana Wen

Note From The Commissioner: Fighting for Health Equity

Jul 13th, 2018

Last weekend, I had the honor to speak at the UnidosUS 2018 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Formerly the National Council of La Raza, UnidosUS is the United States’ largest Latino nonprofit advocacy organization. Other speakers included heroes and partners in our work in health and justice: Bryan Stevenson (Founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative); Cecilia Muñoz (Former Director, Domestic Policy Council, Obama White House); Chad Griffin (President, Human Rights Campaign); and Sherrilyn Ifill (President and Director-Council, NAACP Legal Defense Fund).

Leana Wen

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