District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray Works With America's Beverage Companies to Roll Out Calories Count™ Vending Program in the Nation's Capital

News provided by

American Beverage Association

May 16, 2013, 10:03 ET

BEVERAGE VENDING PROGRAM TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray, along with America's beverage companies, announced the rollout of the new Calories Count™ Vending Program in the city's municipal buildings.

"I'm glad that the District will be in the vanguard of municipal governments working with our nation's beverage companies to ensure that our workers and visitors to our municipal facilities have the information they need to make the best choices for their lifestyles," Mayor Gray said. "This program is a great example of a public/private partnership that empowers consumers."

"America's leading beverage companies are committed to being part of meaningful solutions to the public health challenge of obesity, and working with Mayor Gray to bring the Calories Count™ Vending Program to city employees is an important part of addressing that challenge," said Susan K. Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association. "With Calories Count™, everyone who works in or visits a municipal building in Washington, D.C., will know exactly how many calories are in their favorite beverages before making a vending machine purchase – and they will be reminded that 'calories count' as part of achieving a balanced lifestyle."

The Calories Count™ Vending Program provides clear calorie information on vending machines, encourages lower-calorie beverage choices and reminds consumers that "calories count" in all the choices they make.  The program was launched in municipal buildings in Chicago and San Antonio in late 2012, and with the support of NAMA and members of the vending industry, it will now begin rolling out in District of Columbia municipal buildings next month.

"The District already has a number of programs in place to encourage improved health among our residents – including our Sustainable DC initiative to make the District the nation's greenest, healthiest and most livable city – but the Calories Count™ Vending Program gives us another tool to ensure that our residents can reach their health goals," Mayor Gray noted. "This benefits not only them and their families, but also our entire city by reducing health-care costs in the long run."

With the Calories Count™ Vending Program in city buildings, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo will work with Mayor Gray, food service operators and vending companies to:

  • Increase availability of lower-calorie beverages in vending machines;
  • Display a "Calories Count™" vending snipe on the front of beverage vending machines reminding consumers to consider calories in their beverage choices with messages such as "Check, then Choose" and "Try a Low-Calorie Beverage"; and
  • Add calorie labels to the selection buttons on beverage vending machines to show calorie counts per beverage container.

The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.  For more information on ABA, please visit the association's Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.

SOURCE American Beverage Association