Trump admin urges hospitals to serve healthier food 

The Trump administration wants hospitals to stop giving sick people junk food and sugary drinks.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge on Wednesday.

The pledge asks hospitals to give patients better food. Hospitals do not have to sign it, but the plan fits with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to put food and health back at the center of medicine.

“Patients recovering from serious medical conditions deserve better than ultra-processed and deep-fried junk food,” Kennedy said. “President Trump has directed HHS to put real food at the center of American health. Today, we’re challenging hospitals across the country to lead by example by serving nutritious, minimally processed meals that help patients heal, reduce chronic disease and help Make America Healthy Again.”

The pledge asks hospitals to cut back on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. It also asks them to stop deep-frying food when they can bake, broil, roast, stir-fry or grill it instead.

Hospitals that sign the pledge also agree to cut back on processed meats, added sugars, salt and artificial additives. They also agree to serve more whole grains and simple proteins. That can include plant-based protein.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said better food can help patients heal and manage long-term health problems.

“When it comes to managing chronic disease, reducing co-morbidities like obesity and shortening recovery times, a healthy diet can make all the difference,” Oz said. “I’m grateful to President Trump for his leadership in putting nutrition and prevention at the center of America’s health agenda. Hospitals should nourish patients with the same commitment they bring to every other aspect of care.”

Florida hospital links to farms

The announcement follows a hospital food event Kennedy and Oz held in Miami earlier this year.

The pair visited Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in March as part of Kennedy’s Take Back Your Health tour. The America First Policy Institute hosted the event. Kennedy and Oz met with health care leaders and discussed children’s health, chronic disease and better food in hospitals.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital signed a pledge to link hospital food service with Florida farms.

“Quality health care starts with quality food,” Kennedy said at the March event.

HHS also promoted the hospital food push on social media this week.

“Hospitals should heal people – and that includes the food they serve,” HHS posted on X. “Today, we’re calling on hospitals across America to join us and commit to serving REAL, nutritious food to every patient.”

The effort also builds on other Make America Healthy Again initiatives. Heartlander News has covered Kennedy’s push to define and target ultra-processed foods as well as federal moves against artificial food dyes, part of a broader Trump administration push for children’s health.

Supporters of Kennedy’s latest initiative say hospitals should not feed patients the same kinds of food that help drive obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

However, opponents say patients need different diets and many hospitals already have dietitians and special menus.

The pledge does not ban all comfort food in hospitals but encourages healthy eating while patients are trying to recover.

(Image credit: X / HHS)