Chicago Vending Product Restrictions Take Effect Jan. 1, 2013

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel 's healthy vending restrictions including limits on soda and snacks in vending machines on city property has passed and will take effect on the first of January 2013.

The new vending machines must follow clear guidelines on fat, sugar and calorie content. These include:

• Only 25 percent of cold beverage options in a machine can be “high calorie” beverages, and the remaining 75 percent of the beverage options must contain 25 calories or less per eight ounces;
• All hot beverage options must contain 25 calories or less;
• All beverage selections, with the exception of water and seltzer, are limited to 12 ounces;
• At least 75 percent of the food options in a machine must contain 250 calories or less, at least five food items must contain 250mg or less of sodium per serving, and at least one food item in a machine must be both gluten- and nut-free.

A “high calorie” beverage is defined as a beverage with 25 calories or more per eight ounces.