No New Fast Food for South L.A.

A Los Angeles McDonald's.

Photo: AP Photo / Nick Ut

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Hopefully you're not driving through South Los Angeles when your next Big Mac craving emerges.

A rule proposing no new fast food chains in a number of neighborhoods, mostly in South Los Angeles, received unanimous support from an L.A. City Council committee, according to the L.A. Times.

If the amendment is approved by the full council and signed by the mayor, it will be imposed for at least one year and would prevent fast food chains from opening new restaurants in a 32-square-mile area.

According to the article, councilwoman Jan Perry, whose 9th District includes much of South Los Angeles, said this is part of her attempt to address the health issues associated with fast food, such as diabetes and obesity, which are prevalent in her district. A study released in April showed that 30 percent of South Los Angeles adults were obese, compared with about 21 percent of adults countywide. South L.A. also has the highest incidence of diabetes in the county.

Defining fast food has proved tricky.

Currently the amendment defines a fast-food restaurant as "any establishment which dispenses food for consumption on or off the premises, and which has the following characteristics: a limited menu, items prepared in advance or prepared or heated quickly, no table orders and food served in disposable wrapping or containers."

Perry changed her proposal so that businesses such as Subway were not included in the ban.

Some have argued that this has made it difficult for non-fast food establishments such as Ben & Jerry's and Smoothie King to open new establishments.

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