Squaddies on active duty and nurses working late shifts could be banned from buying a bar of chocolate or a fizzy drink as part of a planned crackdown on vending machines.
The Food Standards Agency is in early talks with government and other agencies about vending in publicly funded buildings, such as sports centres, hospitals and army bases.
A spokeswoman said: “The FSA hosted a meeting with government departments and a range of stakeholders this month to exchange views on policies for vending machines in publicly funded buildings.”
The idea is to draft guidelines on healthy vending options.
News of the talks came as the School Food Trust delivered a report on vending in schools to the Department for Education and Skills. The SFT would not comment on its report, saying that it expected to go public with its findings later this month.
But industry groups say the SFT will call for a ban on sweets, biscuits, fizzy drinks and crisps.
And they fear the proposals could be extended across the entire public sector as part of a wider crackdown on vending in the wake of the FSA initiative.
Food and Drink Federation deputy DG Martin Paterson said: “The industry has conceded the school environment is different, but the suggestion that soldiers and hard-working nurses will be the victims of nanny-state type restrictions is jaw-dropping.”
The Biscuit Cake Chocolate & Confectionery Association said: “This would mean making choices for grown adults about what they eat and would be totally inappropriate.”
The British Soft Drinks Association added: “Vending is one channel among many. Why would the FSA believe changing the rules on vending machines would change people’s diet?”
Rod Addy
The Grocer Price Index
The Food Standards Agency is in early talks with government and other agencies about vending in publicly funded buildings, such as sports centres, hospitals and army bases.
A spokeswoman said: “The FSA hosted a meeting with government departments and a range of stakeholders this month to exchange views on policies for vending machines in publicly funded buildings.”
The idea is to draft guidelines on healthy vending options.
News of the talks came as the School Food Trust delivered a report on vending in schools to the Department for Education and Skills. The SFT would not comment on its report, saying that it expected to go public with its findings later this month.
But industry groups say the SFT will call for a ban on sweets, biscuits, fizzy drinks and crisps.
And they fear the proposals could be extended across the entire public sector as part of a wider crackdown on vending in the wake of the FSA initiative.
Food and Drink Federation deputy DG Martin Paterson said: “The industry has conceded the school environment is different, but the suggestion that soldiers and hard-working nurses will be the victims of nanny-state type restrictions is jaw-dropping.”
The Biscuit Cake Chocolate & Confectionery Association said: “This would mean making choices for grown adults about what they eat and would be totally inappropriate.”
The British Soft Drinks Association added: “Vending is one channel among many. Why would the FSA believe changing the rules on vending machines would change people’s diet?”
Rod Addy
The Grocer Price Index
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