Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper to Provide Calorie Counts on Vending Machines

   By Tess Stynes 
 

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (DPS) will participate in a program to roll out vending machines that provide calorie counts for beverage selections in Chicago and San Antonio, Texas.

The move comes amid a nationwide focus on the U.S.'s increasing weight problems and the consumption of sugary beverages and snacks, as well as calorie-laden fast-food items.

A broader rollout of the vending machine effort will begin next year.

Though beverage companies already put nutrition information on their packaging, the display labels on the front of the vending machines are intended to serve as a reminder that calories count.

The beverage industry is working with government leaders, restaurant operators, vending machine companies and other customers to increase availability of lower-calorie beverages in vending machines and to add calorie labels to buttons on vending machines to show calorie counts per beverage container.

Under the program with the American Beverage Association in the two cities, city employees and their families will vie to see which side can lose the most weight.

Write to Tess Stynes at [e-mail]

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