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Maryland group proposes legislation to add health food to vending kiosks

Activist group Sugar Free Kids plans to propose legislation called the 'Maryland Health Vending Act.' This act would require 75 percent of all food and drinks in vending kiosks to meet healthy standards.

January 6, 2016

Activist group Sugar Free Kids plans to propose legislation called the "Maryland Health Vending Act." This act would require 75 percent of all food and drinks in vending kiosks to meet healthy standards, according to a report by ABC 2.

If this proposal passes, all snacks would be required to meet certain trans fat and sodium standards. In addition, vending kiosks would have to hold bottled water.

"By making healthier food and drinks more widely available in vending machines, this bill could reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases for people who work and live in Maryland," Dr. Richard Bruno, board of trustees member at MedChi, said. "This legislation recognizes that addressing the growing public and health crises linked to poor nutrition requires leadership creative approaches."

Often, children from low-income families or minorities are affected significantly by obesity and diabetes, according to the report. "Diseases like obesity and diabetes have been devastating communities of color for too long," said Gerald Stansbury, president of the NAACP Maryland State Conference. "Our chapter fully supports healthier options to be available where Marylanders live, work and play."