December 30th, 2013
09:08 AM ET

Vending Machines to Display Calories

We all know that moment – it's the middle of the afternoon, your stomach is grumbling, and that vending machine full of snacks is calling your name. But what if the machine listed all the glorious calories loaded in those snacks?

Would that affect your decision?

Well, the hope is that it might.

Starting next year, about five million vending machines nationwide will be required to display calorie information as a part of Obamacare.

“The new rules apply to more than 10,000 vending machines companies nationwide that operate 20 or more machines,” reports CNN’s Christine Romans.

The result will be similar to calorie count menus in restaurants; customers will see the calories next to their snack choice.

The FDA hopes this will help consumers go for alternatives and stick to their new year’s resolutions. But the program won’t be cheap.

Romans says: “The FDA estimates it’s going cost the industry about $25.8 million, maybe $24 million every year after that.”

However the, FDA  points out that if just 0.2% of obese adults ate 100 fewer calories a week, it would save $24 million or more a year in annual health care costs.


Filed under: Health • moneytime • News • Social • Videos
soundoff (11 Responses)
  1. Comrade Ogilvy

    Another FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLOY to supress free enterprise and ADD ANOTHER FREE REVENUE STREAM to its portfolio - You can be sure it will be taxing the industry responsible for adding this BS to vending machines, taxing the increased labor required to implement this BS law, and penalizing vendors who don't display caloric count.

    January 6, 2014 at 4:46 pm | Reply
  2. Comrade Ogilvy

    Another FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLOY to supress free enterprise and ADD ANOTHER FREE REVENUE STREAM to its portfolio - You can be sure it will be taxing the industry resopnsible for adding this bull$hit to vending machines, taxing the increased labor required to implement this bull$hit law, and penalizing vendors who don't display caloric count.

    January 6, 2014 at 4:45 pm | Reply
  3. DONC

    My apologies for the spelling errors

    January 3, 2014 at 10:30 am | Reply
  4. DONC

    Get ready for higher prices. This will add over a billion doolars in additonal cost to vending operators. I have been calling on them for over 11 years now and I can tell you this process will be impoosible to monitor. Since there are 40 – 45 slots, products change each week. You have differnt drivers on a regular basis and it is hard to keep track what is in the machine.

    January 3, 2014 at 10:29 am | Reply
    • Comrade Ogilvy

      DONC – They are counting on forcing an increase in labor – this will make the Federal government look like it's "increasing jobs" and will generate more income tax dollars. The Federal government should be eleminated. It's nothing but a cesspool of con artists and parasites.

      January 6, 2014 at 4:50 pm | Reply
  5. OMG

    HAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!! I need some obamacare oxygen so I can catch my breath after reading this. The government really does not think very highly of the citizens of the United States do they? First, the nutritional stats are on the snacks in the machine. Second, do they really think it's going to persuade an obese person who has been eating poorly to change? Anyone with any sense can figure out that a bag of almonds is better for you than potato chips or a candy bar. To me it just looks like it may put the vending machine companies out of business. But maybe that is the idea to begin with. No vending machines no fat people?

    December 30, 2013 at 5:31 pm | Reply

Post a comment


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.