Who is responsible for making the changes to the vending machines in order to vend smaller containers?
In general, whoever owns the vending machine or vending contract has this responsibility. Bottlers typically own the vending machines they stock. Sometimes a food and beverage distributor who delivers food to the cafeteria may own the vending equipment. In other cases, smaller vending companies may provide the machines. In any of these cases, it is NOT the responsibility of the school to retrofit or replace the vending machines – the companies should assume this cost. If a third party is unwilling to assume the cost to make the necessary changes until their contract with you expires, then you should seek to only vend beverages permitted under these Guidelines which will fit in your current machines. For example, if you have machines that vend 20 oz. containers, you could sell water and other no or low calorie beverages in high school in these machines since there aren’t portion size limits on these types of beverages in high schools.
If your school or school district owns the vending machine, then this responsibility will fall on the school. Existing vending machines can be shimmed to vend smaller containers. This is a less expensive solution than replacing the machine or buying another machine to vend different size containers. Alternatively, you could choose to vend only beverages permitted under these Guidelines which will fit in your machines until you retrofit or replace your current vending machine.
