TAGS: vending, vending machine restrictions, Washington state vending restrictions, healthy vending, vending nutritional guideline, National Automatic Merchandising Association, Fit Pick, Washington's State Department of Health
OLYMPIA, WA -- The State of Washington is planning to implement nutritional guidelines that will further restrict the foods and beverages allowed in vending machines at state agencies and institutions.
Washington was one of the first states to adopt the National Automatic Merchandising Association's Fit Pick program for vending machines in 2007. At least 35% of the snacks stocked in a Fit Pick machine must comply with the program's nutritional criteria. To qualify for the Fit Pick sticker, an item must provide no more than 35% calories from fat, no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat and no more than 35% of tits weight can be sugar.
But Washington's State Department of Health says its new program will be modeled after the more stringent Seattle-King County guidelines, adopted in 2011. They define three categories of food and beverages: healthiest, healthier, and food and beverages that should be limited. To qualify as "healthiest" or "healthier," a snack must exclude trans fat and added sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup, and contain no more than 360mg. of salt.
The guidelines, described by news sources as "voluntary," are expected to be rolled out later this year.
