New Orleans Wins Accolades For Updated Healthy Vending Policy

NEW ORLEANS -- The City of New Orleans has announced stricter vending and foodservice guidelines intended to influence healthier eating habits on municipal properties. The policy change has earned the city the silver medal for Model Food Service from the Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties initiatives of the National League of Cities.

In December 2012, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed an executive order that outlined the development and implementation of a standard for healthier foods and beverages in the vending and foodservice options at City Hall and other city-owned parks and facilities. The policy update outlines stricter standards that must meet the U.S. Health and Human Services and U.S. General Services Administration Health and Sustainability guidelines.

The New Orleans Health Department, in partnership with the American Heart Association, will lead the effort to educate vendors and city employees about the new policy. This will include workshops about the new guidelines and taste tests in City Hall to allow employees to vote on what items they want stocked and sold in vending machines.

The policy is designed to combat obesity. Some 32% of adults in New Orleans are obese and 13% of the city's children are, too. The policy is also intended to support growing consumer demand for healthier options.