California Automatic Vendors Council Calls On Vendors To Oppose Bill Concerning Vending On State Property

The California Automatic Vendors Council (CAVC) is asking members to contact their state senators to oppose AB 727, which will change the law related to vending on state owned property passed out of the senate government organizations committee this week and will be heard next in the senate health committee. The bill provides that by 2016, 50 percent of the items in vending machines on state owned property must meet the nutritional guidelines; currently the amount is 35 percent. CAVC’s main concern is that the bill does not impose the same standards on other locations, such as cafeterias and snack bars, on state owned properties.

CAVC has provided an Internet link to senators’ contact information: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

CAVC also offers the following sample letters that vending operators can use:

Date

The Honorable  

Member, State Senate

State Capitol, Room <#>

Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: AB 727 (Mitchell) – OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED

Dear Senator  :

I am writing to express my opposition to AB 727 (Mitchell). The bill would place onerous restrictions on the content of food in vending machines on state property and place vending machine sales at a disadvantage against other retailers including cafeterias and food concessions on the same property.

I am strongly opposed to provisions in AB 727 which would require vending machines by 2014 to offer 50% of their products that meet the bill’s accepted nutritional guidelines. This 50% requirement is overly onerous and would eliminate a vending operator’s ability to provide snacks and drinks to state employees and the visiting public that they request and desire.   The current requirement in state statute of 35% already provides assurances that more than 1/3 of food and beverages in vending machines meet these nutritional guidelines.

In addition, AB 727 creates two different standards for food venues in state buildings placing vending at a disadvantage to cafeterias and food concessions. The bill establishes a different standard for vending machines than cafeterias and concessions. The bill would require vending machines to stock 50% of their items that meet the nutritional guidelines in the bill and would require cafeterias and commissaries to only stock 25% of their items to meet these nutritional guidelines. Thus, cafeterias right across the hall from a vending machine will have a financial advantage in having the ability to stock more sweetened beverages and snacks that do not fit the nutritional standards of the bill. The standards should be consistent across all venues on state property.

I would ask that you oppose AB 727 (Mitchell) when it is heard on the Senate Floor unless it is amended to remove the 50% requirement and places vending machines within the same standard as all other food venues in state buildings.  If I can provide you with any additional information please contact me at <#>.

Sincerely,