Vending

Health department forces Virginia food vending venture to revamp plan

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April 5, 2022

A Richmond, Virginia entrepreneur has changed his fresh food vending business after the state health department ruled against his original plan, according to a richmondbizsense.com report.

Danny Sterling's original concept for Eat Like Your Ancestors consisted of refrigerated machines offering meals prepared in his kitchen.

Sterling had to change his plans when the Virginia Department of Health told him it was concerned about the possibility of someone tampering with the food in the machines without in-person monitoring, according to Sterling. The department did not think the remote monitoring was sufficient.

After his request for a variance was denied, Sterling began offering third-party prepared meals in the four machines he still operates. He also launched a home delivery business for his own meals, which he said has been very successful.