Healthier Offerings Mandated for Seattle Vending Machines on City Property

The Seattle City Council has unanimously adopted a bill requiring 50 percent
of the food and beverage offerings in vending machines operated on city
property to be those deemed “healthier” and “healthiest” as defined by Public
Health Seattle & King County’s “King County Healthy Vending Guidelines.”

According to the guidelines, “healthier” items include baked potato chips,
frozen fruit juice bars, whole grain crackers, and pretzels, while the “healthiest”
category includes fresh or dehydrated fruit and vegetables, whole grain
cereals, low-fat popcorn, unsalted nuts or seeds, and fat-free or low-fat plain
yogurt. See Q13Fox.com, March 4, 2013.

Meanwhile, Oregon state legislators have proposed legislation (H.B. 3403)
that would establish nutritional requirements for the food and beverage
offerings in vending machines in public buildings. Among other things, the
proposal would limit vended items to those not containing (i) more than
200 calories per package; (ii) more than 35 percent of total calories from fat
(not applicable to snacks consisting of nuts or seeds only); (iii) more than 35
percent of total calories from sugars; and (iv) any trans fat.