On July 18, the Prince George’s County Council unanimously approved legislation that will expand healthy drinks and snacks offered in county vending machines (CB-26). The bill received all nine votes from the full council. The bill ensures that at least 50 percent of items in machines will meet American Heart Association-recommended nutrition standards for sugar, salt, fat and other measures, and that every drink machine will offer bottled water.
ACS CAN and other supporting organizations of Sugar Free Kids MD coalition applaud the Prince George’s County Council for passing legislation to ensure that the healthy choice will be the easy choice in vending machines across the county. We thank the leadership of Councilmember Dannielle Glaros and her colleagues who have voted to prioritize the health of our residents, students and workers. We also thank municipalities such as Capitol Heights and College Park, health leaders and local youth who supported this policy. We urge County Executive Rushern Baker to follow suit and sign the bill, so that Prince George’s County can continue moving towards a culture of health.
This legislation is designed to help the county promote health, save lives and reduce the costly effects of medical conditions like type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Chronic diseases are significantly affecting the lives of residents in Prince George’s County and leading to large health care costs. More than 60 percent of deaths in the county are due to chronic diiseases. We are excited to see that county leaders have taken a proactive stand to support measures like this that will improve health for people who live, work and play in the community.
This builds on recent momentum in the state of Maryland where similar pieces of legislation that ensure healthy drinks and snacks in vending machines have been passed by Baltimore City, Howard County, Montgomery County and the Maryland-National Parks and Planning Commission since 2015.
