Adherence to Healthy Nutrition Standards and Other Healthy Food Procurement Practices within the Department of Public Works Worksite Cafeteria and Vending Machines, Los Angeles County, 2011-2013

Background: In 2011, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works executed a new food service and vending contract that included Public Health (DPH) recommendations on healthy nutrition standards and best practices for healthy-food-procurement. This session compares findings from baseline and two subsequent follow-up assessments conducted by the DPH to evaluate contract implementation, including the level of product adherence to these nutrition standards and any barriers to full contract implementation.

Methods: During each assessment, an internally developed cafeteria environmental scan tool and an adapted version of the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Vending (NEMS-V) were used to observe and document availability of food options within the cafeteria and vending machines; this also included an assessment of product placement, food-promotion and pricing-strategies. Qualitative data were collected to provide program context.

Results: While some contract standards were implemented in the cafeteria, full adherence to recommended requirements was not achieved. Barriers to adherence included: vendor concerns about revenue losses, inconsistent recordkeeping, resistance to sharing information (e.g., food production records, sales records), and variable levels of contract oversight. In the vending machines, initial post-contract assessment showed a 39% and 49% improvement in snacks and beverages, respectively. A 2013 follow-up, however, showed a reversal in these improvements. 

Conclusions: Ongoing technical assistance, contract monitoring (including contract manager self-assessments), and annual progress reporting are interventional processes that may be needed to help vendors better adhere to these new requirements. Efforts to develop or improve these processes are underway.