FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/4/2013
Mayor Mike McGinn
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Seattle City Council adopts healthy vending machine legislation
This afternoon the Seattle City Council unanimously adopted Council Bill 117710, requiring all vending machines operated on City Property to stock at least 50 percent “Healthier” and “Healthiest” food and beverage selections as defined by Public Health Seattle & King County King County Healthy Vending Guidelines.
“We are working to do our part to support healthier choices for those who want them,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “That’s why we included this effort in our Food Action Plan last year. I thank Councilmember Conlin for his leadership on this issue and I look forward to continuing to work with him to improve access to healthier food choices for our employees and all Seattle residents.”
Councilmember Richard Conlin, sponsor of the healthy vending machine legislation, issued the following statement after the vote, “Healthy vending helps to make the healthy choice the easy choice. This is one way that we can support healthy and productive City employees. City employees will now have more opportunities to consume more nutritious food and beverages while at work.”
Seattle’s Department of Parks and Recreation has led the way by successfully implementing the King County Healthy Vending Guidelines of “Healthier” and “Healthiest” choices in all vending machines in City park facilities in 2010.