USDA Proposal: School Vending Machines to Provide Healthier Options

Cinnaminson, NJ, February 11, 2013
 
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a proposal to limit the types of snacks, non-lunch food items, and sodas that can be sold from vending machines at the nation’s schools.  
 
According to the USDA news release a key component of the proposal includes, “Ensuring that snack food items are lower in fat, sugar, and sodium and provide more of the nutrients kids need.”  Details of the proposal state that the food sold in vending machines cannot exceed 200 calories.  Additional nutritional guidelines include limits on fat and sugar in the products.
 
“Parents and teachers work hard to instill healthy eating habits in our kids, and these efforts should be supported when kids walk through the schoolhouse door,” reported Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Good nutrition lays the groundwork for good health and academic success. Providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines, and snack bars will complement the gains made with the new, healthy standards for school breakfast and lunch so the healthy choice is the easy choice for our kids.”
 
One company that has extensive experience with helping food companies test their products and comply with nutritional labeling regulations is EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “The two most common methods for determining the nutritional content of food products, as is proposed in these new USDA school vending machine regulations, are laboratory based analysis and database analysis,” reported Joy Dell’Aringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Director at EMSL Analytical.  “Each method is compliant with the government’s labeling laws and EMSL provides both types of analysis for companies involved with providing food items to our nation’s schools.”
 
To learn more about nutritional labeling or other food testing services please visit: www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of food, environmental, and materials testing services and products to government agencies, industry professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com