Los Angeles County Leads Nation with New Nutrition Vending Policy

LOS ANGELES-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The days of sugary sodas, salty snacks and fatty desserts dropping from Los Angeles County vending machines ended today when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted for a 100 percent healthy vending policy, a landmark move expected to have national repercussions.

With more than half the county’s adults overweight and county health statistics showing rising levels of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease related to obesity, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion to require 100 percent of all food and beverage options in Los Angeles County vending machines meet state of California nutrition guidelines.

“In the face of an exploding obesity crisis, our supervisors have shown real leadership. They understand that personal responsibility is only part of the equation to address an epidemic costing the county nearly $12 billion a year. Local governments have to do their part as well to make healthy choices easily available,” says Rosa Soto of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, a proponent of the new policy.

Representing more than 9 million citizens, Los Angeles County has a reputation as a national pioneer on health issues. Often acting as an incubator for novel health policies, the county has demonstrated both the leadership and feasibility of policies ranging from menu labeling and trans fat bans to the removal of sodas from school campuses.

The new policy, introduced by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Michael D. Antonovich, redoubles previous county nutrition commitments by directing that all future procurement and negotiations for vending machines within county facilities (excepting custody facilities, beaches and harbors) specify 100 percent healthy options.

NOTE: Rosa Soto is available to provide additional comment and background on the health implications of the Board’s decision.

CA Center for Public Health Advocacy

Rosa Soto, 626-688-7468 or 626-962-5900

or

Brown Miller Communications

Michael Miller, 800-710-9333