Council implements FSA Nutritional Standards in Facility Vending Machines
Mid Ulster District Council, along with the support of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), has introduced nutritional standards in its vending machines at Cookstown, Dungannon, Greenvale and Maghera Leisure Centres, as well as arts and culture facilities, the Burnavon in Cookstown and the Hill of the O’Neill and Ranfurly House, Dungannon.
There are two phases to the standards, and the Council is implementing phase one in this current move. This means all food in the vending machines in participating facilities is below 250 kcal per product, and less than 10% of drinks stocked are high sugar varieties (containing 5g sugar or more per 100ml), with a focus on water as the best source of hydration.
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Deirdre Varsani, welcomed the introduction of the standards, outlining how it will benefit visitors and users:
“Helping our residents lead healthier lives is a key focus for Mid Ulster District Council. By introducing the FSA nutritional standards for vending services in our leisure and arts and cultural facilities, we are making healthier, lower-calorie options more readily available to visitors.
“This initiative also helps parents who often face pressure when choosing snacks for their children, making it easier to encourage healthier habits from an early age. I believe this change will deliver real benefits for those who use the facilities."
Healthy eating and sustainability are becoming more important to consumers. Research by the FSA highlights that consumers would like to see healthier food and drink options and are concerned about food waste.
Explaining the challenges consumers face, Emily Boyd, Senior Scientific Adviser, Dietary Health, at the Food Standards Agency said:
“We know from research that 68%* of us try to eat more healthily all/most of the time but moderation mindsets endure and with the average person making over 200 food choices every day, it can be a challenge.
“What is offered in vending really matters because it often provides access to food and drink when other services aren’t available. We know that changes of this nature can have a big impact with a potential 25% reduction in total calories at Phase 1 and between 35-50% reduction in total calories at Phase 2. By embracing these standards Mid Ulster District Council are supporting the creation of a healthier food environment for their citizens.”
More information on the standards can be found in the FSA’s ‘Healthier and more sustainable vending: A guide to nutritional standards and sustainability in vending’, published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthier-and-more-sustainable-vending