While food and beverage vending machines in schools have been the focus of many anti-obesity initiatives, vending machines in workplaces and public places have not received the same scrutiny - despite calls by some for removing them or changing their offerings.
That neglect may be changing as Santa Ana (Calif) joins other communities by approving an ordinance requiring vending machines to have at least half of their offerings be healthy ones.
The trend of legislating what can be sold in vending machines started
in high schools and has spread to municipal governments. San Jose
passed a policy similar to the one proposed in Santa Ana. Chula Vista
went a step further, mandating two months ago that its vending machines
contain no junk food...A total of 23 city parks and community centers would be affected by the
proposed policy. About a dozen more vending machines are at the
library, train depot, City Hall, Police Department and public works
yard.
If communities and national organizations are serious about the obesity problem in America, and believe that it is as much a problem for adults as it is for children and teens, this type of policy approach to improve public access to healthier food choices makes sense. However, convincing adults to 'deprive themselves' is a little trickier than 'just doing it' to the kids. As Stephen Dann might put it, the adults are more likely to point out "That's cheating!"
Then, of course, great tasting and satisfying food and beverage products have to be in them.
via Morning Coffee.
Technorati Tags: Obesity, Public Policy, Vending Machines
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