HealthWednesday, October 28
RFK Jr. says more than 250 hospitals have signed a pledge to serve healthier food
The Good Day Grand Rapids team
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the milestone Monday during a Grand Rapids visit. Corewell Health helped design the voluntary Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge, Kennedy told WWMT.
More than 250hospitals have signed the pledge
HHS and CMS launched the voluntary pledge in July.
Source: DBusiness Magazine
mlive reports Corewell's chef calls its approach "stealth health." A lentil bolognese, for example, is 50% lentils. Corewell CEO Tina Freese Decker said the system is "focused on serving whole foods, cutting back on sugar and sodium, and using healthier cooking methods," per DBusiness.
- Participation is voluntary, with no federal mandates or financial penalties tied to purchasing decisions
- New badge: "Committed to Excellence in Hospital Nutrition"
- Fried food: bake, roast or grill instead
The pledge asks hospitals to change what they serve and teach
| Area | What hospitals commit to |
|---|---|
| Cooking | Bake, roast or grill, not deep-fry |
| Processed foods | Limit ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks |
| Staff and visitors | Expand healthier choices |
| Patients | Share nutrition knowledge after discharge |
Source: Dailypress.net
Sources: mlive, DBusiness Magazine, Dailypress.net, WWMT