--- title: "Vending Machines: Industries Back Chicago’s Plan for Healthier Options" id: "14531" type: "post" slug: "vending-machines-industries-back-chicagos-plan-for-healthier-options" published_at: "2012-11-21T17:10:30+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T19:11:40+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/21/vending-machines-industries-back-chicagos-plan-for-healthier-options/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/21/vending-machines-industries-back-chicagos-plan-for-healthier-options.md" excerpt: "The Windy City is the latest to crack down on calorie consumption, and industry groups are backing the mayor’s initiative." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "healthy eating" - "public health" - "vending machines" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Vending Machines: Industries Back Chicago’s Plan for Healthier Options Taking a page from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s playbook, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is going after high calorie counts in his city. > These new vending machines will make it easier than ever before for city employees and the public to make healthy lifestyle decisions. Last week, Emanuel revealed his [plan to crack down on the city’s snack foods (opens in a new tab)](http://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/news/10830723/chicago-mayor-emanuel-healthy-vending-machine-initiative-limits-beverage-sizes-to-12-ounces) , proposing an ordinance that lays out guidelines for fat, sugar, and calorie content in snacks and beverages sold in vending machines. The action resembles Bloomberg’s move to ban large soft drinks in New York City. Unlike Bloomberg, who faced [backlash](http://associationsnow.com/2012/10/lunchtime-links-associations-battle-nyc-soda-ban/) from multiple associations, Emanuel is gaining support from industry groups. “We applaud Mayor Emanuel and the City of Chicago in promoting informed choices in the area of health and wellness,” Carla Balakgie, president and CEO of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, [said in a statement (opens in a new tab)](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-from-nama-chicago-based-national-vending-association-regarding-mayor-rahm-emanuels-healthy-vending-initiative-179372611.html) . “The vending industry welcomes the opportunity to work together with the mayor’s office, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and Chicago public schools to advance our mutual agendas.” The American Beverage Association has already [introduced a new initiative](http://associationsnow.com/2012/10/counting-calories-beverage-associations-vending-initiative/) , launched recently in Chicago and San Antonio, to display the calorie counts of drinks available for purchase in vending machines. Emanuel’s plan goes a step further, requiring that no more than 25 percent of a vending machine’s cold beverages, and no hot drinks, be high calorie (more than 25 calories per eight-ounce serving), and that all vended drinks be limited to 12 ounces. Also, healthier options would have to be priced competitively with their high-calorie counterparts. “These new vending machines will make it easier than ever before for city employees and the public to make healthy lifestyle decisions,” Emanuel said. “When city employees take their wellness into their own hands, we can reduce health care costs and also serve as a model for the residents of Chicago when it comes to making healthy choices.” (iStockPhoto/Thinkstock) [Rob Stott](https://associationsnow.com/author/rob-stott/) Rob Stott is a contributing editor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rob-stott/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#healthy eating](https://associationsnow.com/tag/healthy-eating/) [#public health](https://associationsnow.com/tag/public-health/) [#vending machines](https://associationsnow.com/tag/vending-machines/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F11%2F21%2Fvending-machines-industries-back-chicagos-plan-for-healthier-options%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !