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 Linda Thomas
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The City of Seattle is considering an ordinance that requires all vending machines operated on city property to stock "Healthier" and "Healthiest" food and beverage selections. (AP File photo)

Seattle will stop feeding city workers' chocolate addictions

February 13, 2013 @ 5:53 pm (Updated: 5:11 am - 2/14/13 )

No more Cheez-Its, Reese's or Snickers. The Seattle City Council is considering legislation to increase the amount of healthy options in vending machines operated on city property.

The majority of the machines only serve city employees.

"We are committed to providing healthier choices for our employees," Mayor Mike McGinn says in a statement about the city's healthy workplace initiative.

The city thinks it can have healthier and more productive employees if they provide better snack options.

Council Bill 117710 requires all vending machines operated on city property to stock "Healthier" and "Healthiest" food and beverage selections. Those standards are based on calories, fat, sugar and sodium content.

Obesity and poor nutrition are problems everywhere, and it's estimated approximately half the adult population in Seattle is overweight or obese.

Fewer than one-third of adults and youth report eating the recommended five fruits and vegetables per day, and one-third of youth report consuming one or more sodas on the previous day, according to a King County health report.

Overweight adults are at greater risk a whole lot of health problems, and for a city that means an increase in health insurance payouts and a bigger burden on the health care system.

By LINDA THOMAS

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Comments (7)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cameron wrote...
    Have they started to fire the fat people and the smokers?
    February 14, 2013 5:08 am
    Since they are soo concerned with lowering health care costs. What next? Maybe they can get a hold of blood tests and see which employees are most likely to develop expensive dieases and show them the sidewalk. You have to love progressive Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    gee, how bout a story about what my employer puts in our vending machines?
    February 14, 2013 5:10 am
    why do we care? If I was a city employee I would be fine with this cause I doubt I would ever buy anything from a vending machine.
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  • doubleogordo wrote...
    Can't we all just balance the budget?
    February 14, 2013 5:33 am
    None of this feel good legislation means anything. Just focus on the bugdet already.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Country_Dog wrote...
    How about we pay them less
    February 14, 2013 5:55 am
    and then they will have less money to buy junk food.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    How about trying something new and improved....
    February 14, 2013 6:21 am
    Let people take perosnal responsibility for their actions and Government stay as much as possible out of everyone's personal business. Just a thought.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stevebo wrote...
    It continues to baffle me that people in government feel it's necessary to dictate personal choice...
    February 14, 2013 7:16 am
    I guess this is where my Libertarian side comes out - because I truly feel that government has NO business dictating personal choice of it's citizens.

    Sure, educate the public. Make sure people understand consequences for choices... but in the end, government needs to stay the heck out of people's personal lives.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "approximately half the adult population in Seattle is overweight or obese."
    February 14, 2013 7:23 am
    And approximately 90% of Seattle city employees are under worked, over paid, overweight and or obese.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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