The State of California has recently taken aim at the rise of health related problems among school children and adults. In response to what it considers an obesity and diabetes epidemic affecting both adults and children, the California Legislature recently added a law requiring vending machines on state property, including school districts, to offer food and beverages which meet accepted nutritional guidelines effective January 1, 2009. Government Code §11005.4 requires that at least 35% of the food and at least one-third of the beverages offered in vending machines meet the accepted nutritional guidelines.

The beverages that meet the accepted nutritional guidelines include water, milk (including dairy and non-dairy milk), electrolyte replacement beverages that do not contain more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving, 100% fruit juices, and fruit based drinks composed of no less than 50% fruit juice and have no added sweeteners. Food items that meet the nutritional guidelines include food which contains the following: not more than 35% of total calories from fat (except for nuts, seeds or whole gain products), not more than 10% of total calories from saturated fats, and not more than 35% of total weight from sugar (except fruits and vegetables). The food requirements may be phased in so that 25% of the items meet the nutritional guidelines by January 1, 2009, and that 35% of the items do so by January 1, 2011. (Government Code §11005.4)