FSA denies it wants to ban unhealthy vended food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) this week denied it was seeking a ban on the sale of sweets, fizzy drinks and crisps from vending machines in publicly funded buildings.

Media reports last week suggested the FSA hoped to crack down on unhealthy vended foods in hospitals, army barracks and sports centres following talks with government departments and other agencies last month.

But an FSA spokeswoman claimed a ban had never been on the agenda.

"The meeting heard views on current approaches to vending, and implications for consumer choice and industry. The FSA has no plans for further discussions or to develop guidance," she said.

The spokeswoman said the press had made assumptions based on an earlier, less explicit press statement.

"We weren't talking about banning anything," confirmed Janette Gledhill, director of the Automatic Vending Association.

She said the talks had considered how vendors could provide a broader range of choice.

\* A call to ban unhealthy options in school vending machines across England is widely expected when the School Food Trust publishes its report, School Food Other Than Lunch, later this month.