U.S. Secretary of Health promotes the "Eat Real Food" initiative, urging hospitals to steer clear of ultra-processed foods in their meals

U.S. regulators announced on Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is asking hospitals to redesign the menus of meals provided to patients using his revised dietary pyramid.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent a memorandum to hospitals requiring them to limit patients’ access to options for ultra-processed foods, even though there is no official definition yet of which foods the concept covers.

By contrast, the agency wants hospitals to gradually shift to offering whole-grain foods, eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages, and ensure that the added sugar in meals is less than 10 grams.

The memorandum’s example menu alternatives include: replacing a cereal breakfast with oatmeal porridge and berries; replacing flavored, sweetened yogurt with plain yogurt; and replacing prepared deli meats with freshly made lean protein. The memorandum also suggests providing alternatives such as unsweetened fruit juice or low-sugar fruit gelatin for patients during postoperative recovery.

The newly released dietary guidelines from the Trump administration this January emphasize eating more fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein, while reducing added sugar. The U.S. dietary guidelines are updated every five years and provide guidance for the federal government’s procurement of meals for service members, schoolchildren, and incarcerated prison inmates. Although the government does not directly procure hospital meals, federal health programs remain an important source of revenue for hospitals.

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Editor: Yu Jian SF069