A resident of Xàbia has filed a complaint with the Ombudsman regarding the presence of ultra-processed and sugary products in a vending machine located at a municipal sports facility. The regional body has opened an investigation to analyze the Xàbia City Council's actions in this case.
The complainant maintains that she has repeatedly requested the council to comply with regional regulations on healthy eating in public centers, specifically Decree 84/2018, which mandates that 80% of vending machine products must be healthy. According to her account, the municipal response was administrative silence, and a larger machine with products like chocolate bars and sweets was allegedly relocated.
The issue was raised in the ordinary council meeting on May 28th by the socialist municipal group. The Councilor for Sports reportedly stated that sugars had already been removed from the machine, a claim the complainant refutes with dated photographs. She also criticizes the councilor's remarks, which she claims included, 'If I don't want chips, I don't buy them, nobody forces me,' ignoring the special protection required for minors.
The situation directly affects the complainant's son, a 9-year-old boy with grade 3 autism. The presence of sweet and ultra-processed products in the sports environment triggers crises for him, forcing the family to abandon the 'psycho-sport' activity, which had been fully paid for the year. The mother states her sole motivation is for her son to be able to participate in sports without the environment causing him deregulatory crises.
The resident claims the City Council informed her on June 4th that the machine was maintained due to 'economic interests' linked to the financing of a private club. Following the Ombudsman's request, the Council sent an email acknowledging they were considering the immediate removal of the machine. The complainant considers it 'intolerable' for a public administration to prioritize economic benefit over public health.
