Ban on hospital junk food vending
Written: 25th March, 2008
Crisps, chocolate and sugary drinks are to be removed from vending machines in NHS hospitals in Wales.
Health Minister Edwina Hart says Wales is the first part of the UK to commit to such a move to tackle obesity and diet-related disease.
It is part of the Labour-Plaid Cymru assembly government's commitment in the deal which created their coalition to improve hospital food and nutrition.
Most junk food will be removed from the machines in the next six months.
Only one NHS hospital in Wales out of 130 will not have healthy vending in place by 2010.
Almost 20% of six to 13-year-olds in Wales are overweight or obese - the highest rate in the UK - as are six out of every 10 men, and half of women.
The assembly government believes hospitals in particular should show best practice in providing health options.
The assembly government said it would liaise with vending machine providers to find ways of introducing healthier food and drink.
Guidance will be issued to support the change, providing clear definitions of what will be allowed in the machines.
Ms Hart said: "Diet has an important role to play in the prevention of obesity and chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
"The assembly government is committed to improving the health of the population of Wales and reducing inequalities by tackling the underlying causes of ill health."
"We need to create an environment where it is easier for people to make healthy choices and our public sector settings should be an exemplar of best practice, particularly our hospitals.
"This is the first stage of the work to improve hospital food," Ms Hart added.
Source BBC news