Illinois lawmakers want healthier options
3/10/15
From the Quad City Times – Illinois lawmakers want healthier options in vending machines March 05, 2015 4:43 pm Jordan Maddox Times Bureau
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House Thursday approved a plan to make the snacks in some vending machines healthier.
A resolution sponsored by state Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, asks the Illinois Department of Transportation and Central Management Services to give consumers more healthy options in vending machines at state rest areas and welcome centers. “We’re just trying to make it easier for people to have healthy options in terms of snacks and to learn about a healthy lifestyle,” Moffitt said.
Moffitt said consumers should be free to pick whatever snack they wish, but they should have more options to choose from. “The (vending machines) that I have seen, there are no healthy options. By that I mean, lower calorie, perhaps a snack bar that might be a granola bar or something like that,” he said.
Moffitt said he is not asking for fresh fruits or vegetables to be available because that could take a lot more maintenance for vending machine operators. The resolution asks for at least three healthy options of 220 calories or less for every 10 items in the machine. Of the healthy options, at least two must be an Illinois product.
“We know that there are some healthy snacks made in Illinois. What better way to showcase Illinois made products by companies that employ Illinois citizens, than at a rest stop where you have the motoring public traveling through the state? It’s even better for Illinois business.”
The measure moved through the House on a unanimous vote. The legislation is House Joint Resolution 29.