American Hospital Association backs healthier hospital food pledge

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has endorsed the ‘Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge,’ a voluntary initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in early July.

The pledge encourages hospitals to improve patient nutrition by eliminating deep-fried foods, limiting sugar-sweetened beverages, and reducing foods high in sodium, added sugars, or artificial additives. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the initiative aims to place nutrition at the center of patient care to help address the chronic disease burden.

Several major health systems have already signed the pledge, including Corewell Health, Houston Methodist, and Sanford Health. AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack noted that the association is committed to helping hospitals provide nourishing meals as clinically appropriate and feasible.