Feasibility of Implementing a Healthy Vending Initiative on a Public University Campus

Abstract

Vending machines consisting of low-nutrient and high-energy-dense options have been identified as a contributor to weight gain at university campuses (Banna et al., 2017). A Healthy Vending Initiative (HVI) was implemented by a Nebraska Public Health District to encourage public institutions and worksites in rural Nebraska Counties to implement policy to increase access to healthier food options to at least 30% in vending machines. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a Healthy Vending Initiative on a public university campus (enrollment ~7000) in a mid-western community. METHODS: Twenty-one vending machines were evaluated using the Nutritional Environment Measures Survey-Vending (NEMS-V). Vending snack items were classified as HEALTHY based on Dietary Guidelines for Americans; ≤ 200 calories per package, ≤ 35% total calories from fat, and ≤ 35% weight from total sugars. Each vending machine was evaluated for percent of items that met guidelines at baseline and after implementing policy and meeting with local vendors, business managers, and administrators advocating to meet the policy guidelines. RESULTS: At baseline 20 ± 3% of vending contents met the guidelines for HEALTHY. Zero snack vending machines met the 30% of HEALTHY food options. After the policy was implemented and vendors and administrators met, only 3 vending machines (15%) met the 30% of HEALTHY food options, but 27 ± 4% of the food items were considered HEALTHY. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the percentage of HEALTHY options available in campus vending machines, we were unable to meet the policy of 30% of HEALTHY options in all vending machines. Only 15% of the vending machines on campus met the policy. Working with vendor companies was more challenging than anticipated. For example, the snack vendor communicated that reaching up to 30% of HEALTHY options would not affect revenue, yet an increase of HEALTHY snack items only reached 27%. All stakeholders continue to communicate on possible solutions moving forward. Future research should continue to measure policy implementation and longer-term outcomes including changes in vending purchasing behavior.