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Get rid of fast food in hospitals!

To: Hospital Administrators of Texas Children’s Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina University Hospital, Naval Medical Center San Diego Hospital Facility, Duke University Hospital, and Children’s Memorial Hospital

A study released by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine revealed the shocking fact that many American hospitals have up to five different fast food restaurants in their buildings. Their own cafeteria and patient menus aren’t much better, offering meals high in fat, cholesterol,...

A study released by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine revealed the shocking fact that many American hospitals have up to five different fast food restaurants in their buildings. Their own cafeteria and patient menus aren’t much better, offering meals high in fat, cholesterol, calories, sugar, and sodium. Ironically, this type of high-cholesterol inducing fare lands many people in hospitals in the first place.

According to the study, you are among the five medical institutions most responsible for promoting this unhealthful trend. As a hospital, you serve as your community’s authority on health, yet how can you offer parents and children daily advice on well-being when your own cafeterias fail to meet basic nutritional standards? Not only do your patients and guests confront dietary challenges on the day of their visit, but they leave your hospitals with skewed perceptions of what comprises “healthy” foods.

As a key decision maker at your hospital, we are calling on you to fulfill your role as a local health leader by promoting a food environment that contributes to health-conscious communities. In order to reduce soaring rates of obesity and diabetes in this country, we ask that you commit to implementing PCRM’s recommendations in your hospital cafeterias. These include: offering a daily salad bar, serving fresh produce whenever possible, offering vegetarian options, including fiber-rich beans in daily meals, experimenting with menu items from world cuisines, and offering customers nutrition information for all entrees available.

This petition closed on August 31, 2012.

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1,187 people signed the petition

With obesity and diabetes rates in the United States at an all-time high, physicians and patients alike should also be increasingly concerned about the foods hospitals serve in their cafeterias. Many fast food chains have set up shop in hospitals over the years, while the institutions' own cafeterias tend to offer high-fat, high-cholesterol foods, processed meats, and other unhealthful menu options known to cause high cholesterol and even cancer in some cases.

In 2011, The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) began investigating the foods that over 110 U.S. hospitals in 50 states serve to patients, visitors, and staff. After analyzing the number of fast-food outlets each contained and the healthfulness of the menu items in its cafeterias, they released a report detailing their findings. Sadly, most hospital menus are dominated by greasy, high-fat, and high-cholesterol foods.

The hypocrisy of a place of health and wellness supporting unhealthy eating habits has many health-conscious citizens enraged. Not only are hospital patients and guests confronted with unhealthful menu options on the day of their visit, but they also receive a warped perception of what comprises "healthy" foods. These very same institutions teach that environments laden with fast food restaurants and junk food marketing have profoundly negative impacts on children's lifelong eating habits and overall health.

It's time for these medical facilities to practice what they preach. Countless unknowing citizens entrust hospitals as their local health authorities and these institutions should accordingly offer healthy food environments. Rather than fried chicken and hot dogs dripping in grease, hospital cafeterias should serve low-fat, plant-based menus items rich in fruits and vegetables that provide nutritional advantages and reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, and diet-related diseases.

Issues:
  1. Update #1

    Posted by Jade Kachina (Campaign Leader) on Jul 26, 2012

    Thanks for taking up the call for hospitals to provide more nutritious meals! This week the federal government affirmed our cause as The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) facilitated discussions among leaders in health care and policy. Senior Administration officials strategized around ways to encourage all hospitals to purchase more environmentally-preferable supplies, serve healthier foods, use less energy, and reduce overall waste. They highlighted the Healthier...

    Thanks for taking up the call for hospitals to provide more nutritious meals! This week the federal government affirmed our cause as The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) facilitated discussions among leaders in health care and policy. Senior Administration officials strategized around ways to encourage all hospitals to purchase more environmentally-preferable supplies, serve healthier foods, use less energy, and reduce overall waste. They highlighted the Healthier Hospitals Initiative's (HHI) successful efforts to improve hospitals' purchasing decisions and overall food environments.

    This is an encouraging step in the right direction, but we must keep challenging our hospitals to make smarter, healthier decisions about the foods they offer. Invite your friends to sign the petition, showing their commitment to protecting and improving all of our eating habits and overall health!

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Discuss the petition

33 comments have been posted
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What motivation do you think exists for health care providers to encourage or promote a healthy population when their sole source of revenue and profit is the result of sick people and return customers; My suggestion Vitamins/Minerals Eat less Eat Better and grow your own food and meat when able and neither depend on nor trust the Government to take care of you try doing it yourself.

Steven Mitchell

These are unregulated, mostly for profit hospitals. Has nothing to do with the government which has been encouraging growing your own food, and helping people get seeds and know how to do it.

Carmen Scicluna

I don't know if anyone is really eating healhty, even if you are cooking yourself because it seems they are mesing in everything

No, I will not sign it. You don't want it, don't order it. I agree with Brian if someone is on their death bed they should be able to have a burger and fries. People need to stop trying to take away our right to choose what we want. Worry about your own life.

Carlitos Corcho

no one is taking your right, but at the same time at a Hospital serving bad food is not good for the patient. if a hospital is gonna serve food their options have to follow health guidelines otherwise whats the purpose. oh yeah i forgot everyone is looking for some magic fix it pill.

Debbie DiFrancesco

if he is on his death bed...its cause of all the fast food bullcrap he is eating hahahaha Brian would u know of a balanced diet if it slapped u in the face

No, I will not sign this... I mean, for the love of God if I were in the hospital on my death bed, I'd want a last cheeseburger before I died!

Lucero De La Tierra

My hope would be that you would have a kind friend or family member who'd go to McDonald's or Burger King or wherever you'd want it from and get it for you.

Brian Collins Jr

If you were on your death bed, would your family want to leave knowing you could die, literally, any time? I know I would be hesitant to leave.

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Shakoor Hospitel

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Eat only alkaline vegetables, and no modern wheat products.

Gary William Jensen

Get rid of the modern GMO wheat!

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