Winnable Battles

CDC’s Winnable Battles are public health priorities with large-scale impact on health and known, effective strategies to address them. The Public Health Law Program has produced the following legal and policy resources that should help public health practitioners, policy makers, and legal counsel as they explore and shape laws and policies to address these critical public health issues.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Overview of laws encouraging the prevention and reduction of HAIs

More about HAIs

HIV

[PDF - 358KB]
Overview of laws that could affect whether minors can consent to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention measures

More about HIV

Motor Vehicle Injuries—Graduated Driver Licensing
Graduated driver licensing programs have consistently proven to be effective at reducing the crash risk for beginning drivers

More about motor vehicle injuries

Nutrition
These selected legal and policy resources should help public health practitioners, policy makers, and legal counsel as they explore and shape law and policy around nutrition, physical activity, and obesity

Artificial Trans Fat
Several jurisdictions reduced or eliminated trans fats from use in restaurants and schools to reduce risks for heart disease
BreastfeedingBreastfeeding can help reduce childhood obesity and protect babies from certain health problems
Menu LabelingProviding nutritional information about standard menu items at the point of purchase can influence consumers to choose menu items with fewer calories
Nutrition Advertising to ChildrenRegulating food marketing to children is a strategy to address childhood obesity
School ActivityProviding physical activity to children in school can help them establish and sustain active lifestyles
School NutritionPolicy and legislation can be used to promote good school nutrition and reduce childhood obesity
Sodium Reduction
Reducing sodium content in foods can improve health
Zoning and ObesityReducing the density of fast food restaurants, restricting fast food restaurants near schools, incentivizing farming in urban areas, and incentivizing development of large grocery stores in urban areas can promote healthier eating
Zoning and Physical ActivityPromoting parks and recreation, requiring sidewalks, promoting use of public transportation, and other strategies can encourage active living
More about nutrition, physical activity, and obesity

Food Safety

CDC’s Food Safety Office and CDC’s Public Health Law Program developed this guidance for foodborne illness outbreaks, both within agencies’ jurisdictions and across multiple states and other jurisdictional boundaries