School Vending Machines Generate Funds - And Controversy

When children choose snack foods from vending machines over low-fat milk, pasta, and other school lunch menu items, nutritionists worry. According to industry statistics, an estimated 20,000 schools have vending machines in their corridors, common areas, and gymnasiums. Vending machines are big money, both to the companies and to schools that house the machines.

Federal and state governments heavily regulate where and how vending machines can be used. Federal laws prohibit the sale of foods that have "little nutritional value" in competition with the school lunch program. State laws are often stricter.

Soda pop is the item that concerns nutritionists most. Soda is likely to replace milk in childrenšs diets, and girls are especially vulnerable: if they donšt get enough calcium, they could be at risk for osteoporosis when they're older. Large soda companies are offering increasingly lucrative deals to schools to sell their products exclusively while schools are looking for ways to bring in money other than tax dollars. School officials and others who want to keep vending machines in schools point to their financial benefits. For exclusive rights to vending machine sales in the Greenfield, Wisconsin high school, for example, Coca-Cola purchased a $5,000 scoreboard for the football field. Another problem with the machines is that the students buy chips to avoid long lunch lines and crowded, noisy cafeteria.

In Fairfax County, Va., the school district has taken over the vending machine contracts. The district now controls the hours of operation of the machines and splits the revenue 50-50 with the schools.

(Vail K. Insert coins in slot. Amer School Board J February 1999, pp. 28-31).

Comment: We have known for many years that poor nutrition impairs learning -thus the school breakfast and lunch programs. Unfortunately, many schools in every state have traded their childrens' good health for revenue sources (vending machines, candy sales, etc.) contributing to dental caries, obesity, and a number of subtle nutritional deficiencies.