Sacramento City Council Eases Up On Healthy Vending Rule After Finding No Operator Willing To Comply

SACRAMENTO, CA -- The Sacramento City Council voted on Aug. 6 to revise its policy requiring that half of the vending machine products in city buildings meet "healthy" guidelines after struggling to find an operator willing to follow the restrictive rules. The city instead will require 25% of food in vending machines to meet the requirement.

Sacramento's Finance Department asked city council members at the Aug. 6 meeting to waive the 50% requirement for healthy snacks and drinks after seeking an operator for a new contract and finding no one willing to enter an agreement under these terms.

After finding a vendor who agreed to provide 25% healthy snacks and beverages, the Finance Department asked for city council approval to lower the requirement and move forward with the contract. That vendor will reportedly now service the machines.

Sacramento's "Health Nutrition Vending Policy," passed by the council in 2011, impacts more than 50 vending machines at official city locations. Food items must contain no more than 250 calories per item, no trans fat, have no more than 35% of calories from total fat, no more than 10% of its calories from saturated fat and no more than 35% sugar by weight. Healthy beverages, defined as "not calorically sweetened," include water, milk and juice without added sweeteners.

SEE THE SACRAMENTO BEE:

City vending machines get tech upgrade, health downgrade