Don’t Go Chasing Chocolate Bars

‘Super-sized’ chocolate bars are to be barred from being sold in hospital shops, canteens and vending machines, the NHS has said.

The head body has said that sweets and chocolate sold in hospitals should be under 250 calories. ‘Grab bags’ are also to be banned, wish hospitals being incentivised by a cash boost for facilitating the change. Proposals will also see 75% of pre-packaged sandwiches being under 400 calories. Pre-packed savoury meals will also contain a maximum of 5g of saturated fat per 100g. 80% of the drinks stocked must also have less than 5g of sugar per 100ml.

NHS England, back in April, said it was going to ban sugary drinks in hospitals if outlets did not cut down on the number they sold. Simon Stevens from the NHS said that they were ‘stepping up’ to combat many health issues being caused by these snack and drinks.

‘In place of calorie-laden, sugary snacks we want to make healthier food an easy option for hospital staff, patients and visitors.’

NHS staff are being targeted as a focus of the move to tackle unhealthy eating, including those on night shift. An estimated 700,000 of the NHS’s 1.3 million staff are apparently overweight or obese. Which isn’t a good look, is it?

The Royal Voluntary Service, the largest retailer for hospitals across the UK, said it has begun to introduce healthier choices, with fruit sales going up by a quarter. Public Health England has said that hospitals have an ‘important role’ in addressing obesity and not dealing with the consequences.

I think we’re all just reticent to eat hospital food. We’d rather spend £5 on a panini.