Sodas, sports drinks, sweetened juices, fast food and grab-and-go vending machine snacks are staples of many American diets, and this fare has become a major contributor to obesity and chronic disease across the nation. Penn Medicine is now taking steps to eliminate these foods from its facilities in an effort to ensure that the food it serves aligns with its missions to care for, educate, and empower patients who are coping with heart disease, diabetes, and many other illnesses.
Over the next several months, Penn Medicine will begin implementing changes across its hospital campuses, eventually removing all beverages with added sugars, such as regular soda, fruit-flavored drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened milk, tea, and coffee drinks. Diet and unsweetened beverages, 100% fruit juice, milk and an array of flavored-water options will be available. In addition, several Penn Medicine hospitals have begun making changes to the food they serve, efforts which align with the “Good Food, Healthy Hospitals” initiative of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
“As a health system, we aspire to create a model environment for the health and wellness of our patients, their families, and our employees, an effort which extends to the food and drinks we serve in our cafeterias, snack bars, coffee stands, and vending machines,” said CEO Ralph Muller. “Our work to prevent and care for patients with chronic conditions impacted by their diets includes educating them on healthy food and beverage choices — lessons which we believe should be mirrored by what we serve in our facilities.” Read more.