Tampa General Hospital First to Sign "Food is Medicine" Pledge

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has made a significant commitment to placing nutrition at the forefront of patient care, becoming the first hospital in the United States to formally sign the "Make Hospital Food Healthy Again" pledge. The initiative emphasizes the role of food in healing and recovery. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins attended a ceremony where TGH President and CEO John Couris signed the commitment.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture support the pledge, aiming to improve hospital food and ensure patients receive nutritious, healthy meals that aid recovery rather than contribute to chronic disease. Couris stated that the food patients eat directly impacts their health, recovery, and long-term wellness. Through this pledge, TGH aims to accelerate patient recovery and establish a foundation for healthy eating habits post-discharge.

TGH has been working to revolutionize its hospital food service for several years, collaborating with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. The new menu, inspired by the Mediterranean diet, blends culinary expertise with evidence-based nutrition. Dr. Tanuja Sharma, TGH Medical Director of Integrative Medicine, also contributed to the menu's development. Zakarian highlighted that every meal served in a hospital is an opportunity to nourish, heal, and inspire healthier habits.

The new hospital menu adheres to strict procurement standards, excluding added or artificial sweeteners and processed foods. The menu prioritizes whole foods, organic produce, and locally grown and harvested ingredients. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, Tampa General Hospital is committed to delivering world-class care, including the food that fuels recovery.