Dial-up Drinks Prompt Expert Warnings

Vending machines that allow consumers to dial-up personalised milkshakes with nutritional supplements could find their way into gyms, schools and doctors’ surgeries in as little as 3 years, prompting calls for health warnings by experts.

The machines asks consumers questions regarding their age, gender and exercise regime to specific health conditions like diabetes. And although the consumer can choose flavours and colours, the machine decides how much vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and functional ingredients like pro-biotics to add to the milkshake or smoothie.

The food industry hope that machines like these will open up a whole new market for convenience ’health’ foods. But Peter Ilford, a member of the governing body of the Institute of Food research warns that devices like these raise concerns over self-diagnosis and should carry warnings similar to those on over-the-counter medicines.