I believe there are a number of ways that a vending operator could fulfill the requirements of this law and I’d like to offer a few suggestions:
Probably the simplest way is to print a label or sign which contains each of the vending items, and then post this on the machine itself or on a wall next to it. To avoid replacing your sign whenever new snacks or drinks are added to your machine, I would include additional snacks and drinks that you may not currently have in the machine.
If the sign on the machine is too tacky for your tastes, another option that some machines have is the digital media link option. Seaga Healthy You HY900 combo machines have this digital media link on the top of the machines which will display photos or other messages that you upload onto a thumb-drive and plug into the digital media link display. So you could include pictures of your vending items as well as the calorie counts or other nutritional information which will fade in and out of view.
As I have previously stated, many vending machines today include a credit card reader on them that also displays nutritional values of each food item being vended. This is exciting new technology that can be uploaded automatically to the touch screen card reader and shows not only the calorie count but also all of the vitamins, minerals, fats, serving sizes, etc.
The new health care legislation which will be implemented through the Food and Drug Administration, not only applies to the vending industry, but also applies to restaurants and other food establishments. So whether you agree with it or not, you will be seeing nutritional displays on restaurant menus, menu boards and even drive through window menu boards very soon. I listed just three ways to implement the new health care law and I’d be interested in hearing your plans for the new law as well. For more information about the new health care law as it relates to vending and nutrition, you can visit it here.