Board advances Good Food Purchasing standards for hospitals and jails; ordinance passes first reading

On July 28 the Board advanced an ordinance adopting the Good Food Purchasing standards for food purchased by the Department of Public Health and the Sheriff’s Office for hospitals and jails. The measure, introduced by Supervisor Sandra Fewer, was described as the culmination of three years of work between advocates, department staff and the nonprofit Center for Good Food Purchasing.

Supervisor Fewer said the ordinance sets voluntary goals and minimum standards across five domains — workforce standards, local economies, nutrition, environmental sustainability and animal welfare — and will steer hospital and jail food purchasing toward values‑driven suppliers. The Department of Public Health and the Sheriff’s Office completed baseline assessments of current vendors and procurement practices as part of the ordinance development, staff said. The sponsor noted San Francisco would be among the first U.S. municipalities to adopt the Good Food Purchasing standards for hospitals and jails; the San Francisco Unified School District had previously adopted similar standards for schools.

The motion passed on first reading by roll call (11–0). Supporters include staff from the Department of Public Health and the Sheriff’s Office, the Center for Good Food Purchasing, labor and community advocates who worked on the policy over multiple years.

Why it matters: The policy uses public purchasing power to advance social, labor and environmental objectives in food procurement for public institutions. Advocates argue it can drive improvements for local farmers, food processors and workers while improving nutrition and sustainability in publicly provided meals.

What happens next: The ordinance passed first reading; follow-up administrative work includes vendor outreach and phased implementation tied to departmental baseline assessments.