DES MOINES -- Vending machines in Iowa's capitol complex will offer more healthy choices and make it simple for state workers and visitors to identify them with a color-coding system. The initiative is part of Gov. Terry Brantad's drive to improve health in the state.
The healthy vending program follows a yearlong pilot of the color-coding system in one state office building and will now extend to a dozen others.
Vending items marked with a green label are considered to be the healthiest; those with a yellow label are categorized as less nutritious; and red offerings are deemed to have the lowest nutritional value.
The governor, who was joined by Mariannette Miller-Meeks, director of the state's Department of Public Health during his announcement, said traditional snacks and beverages won't be removed from the machines, but he wants consumers to have healthier choices available.
"We are trying to encourage people to make healthy choices. We don't want to be the food police," he said. The governor acknowledged that people are going to "choose what they want to choose," adding that the new color-coded system will make it as easy as possible for them to make a healthy choice.
