The Effects of Vending Machines in Schools

Vending machines make junk food easily accessible.

Vending machines in schools aren't entirely bad. According to an article in The Washington Post, schools can raise as much as $100,000 per year through contracts with soft drink companies and other vendors. This money helps pay for computers, teacher training and other expenses to make schools better. However, there are many negative aspects of vending machines selling junk food in schools.

Obesity

A survey from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) shows that 75 percent of beverages and 85 percent of snacks sold in middle schools and high schools in the U.S. are of poor nutritional value. This is particularly troubling because low-nutrition snack foods and the excess calories in them are contributing to the rising obesity levels in the U.S. A 2004 report from CSPI shows that obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last two decades.

Dental Cavities

Vending machines in schools don't just contribute to obesity. According to a study from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children with diets high in carbonated soft drinks are at higher risk of getting a cavity than children with other fluid consumption patterns. The study also pointed out that children attending schools with vending machines displayed more cavities than children attending schools without vending machines.

Extra Money

Vending machines provide an extra source of revenue for schools. Removing vending machines from schools may cause a reduction in the quality of programs or education offered by schools. For example, without the money from vending machines, schools may not be able to purchase new computers or enroll teachers in training programs. However, according to CSPI, schools that have switched to selling healthier foods in vending machines have not experienced a reduction in vending machine revenue.

Displacements of Healthy Foods

According to CSPI, easy access to vending machines makes it possible for kids to replace healthy meals, such as the meals offered by the school cafeteria, with food from vending machines. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which sets detailed standards for the portion size and nutrient content of foods offered in school meals, has no control over what vending machines sell. However, as of February 2011, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, a bill allowing the USDA to regulate vending machines in schools, is being reviewed in the House of Representatives.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy and Safe School Environment
• Center for Science in the Public Interest: School Vending Machines "Dispensing Junk"
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD): Policy on Vending Machines in Schools
• The Washington Post: US Schools Hooked on Junk Food Proceeds
• Vending Times: Could USDA Oversight Of School Vending Benefit The Operator?