Supersized chocolate bars and high-calorie confectionary to be banned in hospitals

[DCUK NewsBot]

UK hospitals will stop selling confectionary containing over 250 calories in a bid to combat rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. NHS chief executive Simon Stevens has instructed hospital shops to replace supersized chocolate bars and 'grab bags' of sweets with healthy foods. Most standard sized chocolate bars are below 250 calories and these will still be sold by hospital shops. The crackdown is steered towards reducing junk food consumption by patients, visitors and also NHS staff. Over half of the NHS’ 1.3 million employees are estimated to be either overweight or obese. Promotions and junk food advertising have already been banished on NHS premises, with healthier food and drink options supposed to be accessible. Additionally, NHS organisations have been encouraged to sell less of the high-calorie items - such as 400-calorie-plus sandwiches and meals as well as drinks with over 5g of sugar per 100ml - through financial incentives. Stevens said: "The NHS is now stepping up action to combat the 'supersized' snack culture which is causing an epidemic of obesity, preventable diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease and cancer. In place of calorie-laden, sugary snacks we want to make healthier food an easy option for hospital staff, patients and visitors." The ban also comes on the back of the Healthier Choices programme, which has been introduced by the Royal Voluntary Service, an operator of shops and cafes as well as trolleys in hospitals. Earlier this year, leading retailers such as Greggs and WHSmith agreed that no more than 10 per cent of their soft drinks sales would be high in sugar. Chair of the National Obesity Forum Tam Fry said: "A 250kcal chocolate bar is a quite sufficient snack for anybody and his limits on sugary drinks, fat and savoury items are probably the severest that [Stevens] can get away with for the time being."

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[Goonergal]

Maybe they can also start offering sensible meal choices on their menus so that in-patients who are cutting carbs can maintain their health while being treated. Not saying they should be the only options, but they should be there.

 

[Guzzler]

Take out the drinks machines all together and roll out new rules in school cafeterias, too. Where on earth did all the common sense go?

 

[MikeTurin]

I think that chocolate makers will be happy to make sugar free chocolate, like this in vending machines.
By the way I have an elderly relative that is in hospital due a bad ankle infection, and the food the hospital is giving is not top quality: mashed potatoes are like concrete, pasta is overcooked and burnt and so on. He's really happy that I give chocolate bars, because can't eat all the food they are giving.

 

[lovinglife]

When I was in hospital I managed fine on the food, great salad choices and well cooked food that I could choose to avoid the carbs - even the sandwiches were "open" sandwiches piled with salad and tuna etc so the bread could be avoided- I realise I am very much in the minority here and was very lucky -

BUT- all this good food on offfer still didn't stop the guy over the way who had his leg amputated because of badly controlled diabetes getting his son to bring in family packs of scotch pancaked and greggs sausage rolls which he devoured the whole lot during visiting - my point is those who want it will always be able to get it whether it's on sale on the premises or not!

 

[Musora]

Maybe they can also start offering sensible meal choices on their menus so that in-patients who are cutting carbs can maintain their health while being treated. Not saying they should be the only options, but they should be there.

Absolutely! The last time that I was in hospital - briefly thank goodness - there was hardly anything on the menu that wasn’t either carbohydrate or heavily carb-loaded. I then had health professionals asking me why my glucose levels were skyrocketing.. I dread having to go in for any length of time!