There may soon come a time when you won't be able to grab a pop and chocolate bar from a machine at London arenas and other recreation facilities.
A report going to the city's Community and Protective Services Committee on Tuesday recommends the removal of cold beverage vending machines and candy machines from city-owned recreation facilities. If approved, the beverage machines would be removed when contracts expire near the end of next month. Candy machines would be removed later in the year.
The recommendation reflects a push by health officials to reduce the amount of sugary drinks and candy consumed by children and adults alike.
Research by the Middlesex London Health Unit provides the basis for much of the report. It found approximately 40,500 beverages were purchased from vending machines in recreation centres in 2015.
The health unit cites several reasons why the machines should be removed. Chief among them, the assertion that sugar sweetened beverages are the single largest source of sugar in the diet.
The report says, "Eliminating the sale of all sugary drinks from vending machines, including sports drinks, vitamin water and juices, sends a consistent message that all sugary drinks contribute to the negative health effects of too much sugar in the diet. This approach avoids “health washing,” which labels some SSBs as “healthier” than others."
The city makes an estimated $47,000 per year from vending machines in recreation centres.
