Sugar Free Kids Proposes Healthy Vending Legislation In Maryland

BALTIMORE -- A statewide coalition of health organizations devoted to fighting childhood obesity and teenage diabetes said it will be proposing the "Maryland Healthy Vending Act" during the 2016 state legislative session. The proposal from Sugar Free Kids would make "healthier" food and drinks more widely available in vending machines on state property.

The bill would also require those options to be more noticeable in vending machines, mandate calorie labels be placed on or near machines, and encourage water consumption. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene would be tasked with providing technical assistance to procurement officials in monitoring and enforcing the law.

Specifically, 75% of the food and drinks offered in vending machines on state property would be required to meet healthy food and drink standards. All snacks would also have to meet trans fat and sodium standards.

Healthier foods and beverages would have to be displayed in a way that distinguishes from the other items and "be placed in vending locations with the highest selling potential."

Plain bottled water would be required to be sold in every vending machine on state property.

"After two years of advocating for a healthier culture for children in the state of Maryland, Sugar Free Kids has become a recognized voice within the state," said Robi Rawl, the group's executive director. "We are ready to make a lasting impact in 2016 and it starts with healthier vending options for anyone who lives, works, learns and plays right here in Maryland."

Michaeline Fedder, government affairs director of the American Heart Association's mid-Atlantic division, emphasized that the legislation is intended to give people choices. "For those who want to have a healthy snack, it would be there for them," she said. "Those who want to buy a cola and a bag of fried chips would still be able to buy those items. This legislation offers options. It doesn't force anyone to consume anything they don't want to consume."

The Horizon Foundation, a lead partner of Sugar Free Kids, supported Howard County Councilmember Calvin Ball in his campaign to pass healthy vending legislation last summer, which set nutritional standards for foods placed in vending machines in county government buildings. | READ MORE

"Howard County led the way in championing public health by passing healthy vending legislation last summer," said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and chief executive of the Horizon Foundation, which supported the bill. "We also support Sugar Free Kids in its mission to improve the health of our entire state. This bill promotes health and protects choice. Anyone can buy or eat whatever they like at any time. We are simply making the healthy choice, the easier choice."