- Tampa General Hospital signed the “Make Hospital Food Healthy Again” pledge, aiming to prioritize nutrition in patient care.
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited the hospital to celebrate the announcement.
- The pledge encourages hospitals to limit ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and sodium, while emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats in their menus.
Tampa General Hospital became the first in the nation to sign the “Make Hospital Food Healthy Again” pledge during a press conference Thursday
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visited the hospital, along with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, to celebrate the announcement
The pledge “challenges hospitals to put nutrition at the center of care,” according to the HHS website
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Under the guidelines, hospitals are encouraged to limit servings of ultra-processed foods and foods high in added sugar and sodium, and to emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats
“Hospitals exist to heal people, and the food they serve should help patients recover,” Secretary Kennedy said. “That’s why the Trump administration launched the [pledge]. Every patient deserves real, nutritious food that supports healing. I commend Tampa General Hospital for leading by example and encourage every hospital to join us.”Â
TGH’s new menu includes organic produce and locally grown and harvested products. There are no added or artificial sweeteners and no processed foods
“By introducing patients to world-class, nutrient-dense, wholesome meals, we’re not only accelerating recovery, but we’re giving them the best possible chance at the best possible outcomes,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center. “We’re also establishing a foundation for healthy eating long after discharge.”
TGH has several locations across Florida, including five hospitals, and serves 23 counties surrounding the Tampa Bay area
