For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 18, 2017
‘Healthy Vending Choices’ bill approved
by Montgomery County Council
Councilmember George Leventhal was lead sponsor of bill
that will require County vending machines to carry
at least 50 percent of items meeting nutritional standards
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 18, 2017—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved Bill 1-17 that will require all vending machines on County property to carry at least 50 percent of items that meet American Heart Association recommended nutrition standards for sugar, salt, fat and other measures. Councilmember George Leventhal was the lead sponsor of the legislation. Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Tom Hucker, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer were co-sponsors.
Councilmember Leventhal, who chairs the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, proposed the bill to improve the nutritional value of items sold through vending machines. More information about the bill is available at http://tinyurl.com/n6lpw4w .
The legislation will make healthier packaged snack food and drinks more widely available in vending machines on County property. Bill 1-17 will add healthier options to vending machines, but still will allow for less healthy choices as well.
The bill provides for healthier items to be offered along with chips, candy and regular soda. For the next two years, 50 percent of snacks in machines on County property need to meet American Heart Association recommended nutrition standards for sugar, salt, fat and other measures. After that, the percentage of healthy food and drink offered will be required to rise to 65 percent. Every drink machine would also offer bottled water.
“As chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, I am always on the lookout for ways to help our employees make healthier lifestyle choices.” said Councilmember Leventhal. “Bill 1-17 does not dictate what people can or cannot eat—it simply mandates that our vendors provide healthier options.”
Between Fiscal Year 2006 and Fiscal Year 2017, County Government expenditures to provide health insurance to current and retired employees increased by 72 percent, from $83.3 million to $143.1 million.
Almost one in four children in Montgomery County is not able to maintain a healthy weight. This rate outpaces the national average. More than half of all adults in County adults are not keeping a healthy weight.
Healthy vending legislation was passed by the Howard County Council in 2015 and will be introduced to the Prince George’s County Council this year.
“We are excited about making the healthy choice the easy choice for everyone who lives, works and plays in Montgomery County,” said Executive Director Shawn McIntosh of Sugar Free Kids Maryland. “This legislation is a step for the County to promote health, increase access to healthy choices and help reduce the costly effects of medical conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. By increasing choices for packaged snack foods and beverages in vending, we are aiming to make the County a healthier place to live, work and play.”
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Release ID: 17-127