More than 250 hospitals across 28 states have signed HHS’ pledge to provide more nutritious food, the federal health agency announced Oct. 26.
The pledge asks hospitals to prepare patient meals with nutrient-dense, scratch-cooked ingredients, provide nutrition counseling and information at discharge, and have diverse, budget-friendly dining options.
CMS, an agency part of HHS, called on hospitals earlier this year to provide food more closely aligned to the White House’s dietary guidelines. The memo urged hospitals to eliminate or limit ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains, processed meats and deep-fried cooking methods from patient menus. Meals should contain fewer than 10 grams of added sugar, unless clinically indicated, CMS said.
In March, the first hospital to sign the pledge was Miami-based Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Hospitals from several large health systems have signed HHS’ pledge, including hospitals part of Phoenix-based Banner Health, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based HonorHealth, Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health, Houston Methodist, St. Louis-based SSM Health, Grand Rapids and Southfield, Mich.-based Corewell Health, Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health, York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health, Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital and Cleveland Clinic.
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