health
Just what the doctor ordered: Brazil’s drive to ditch UPFs from hospital menus
Following the successful reduction of ultra-processed foods in schools, scientists and politicians hope to improve patient health with locally grown and freshly prepared meals
TL;DR
- São Paulo hospitals are visiting food fairs to source organic vegetables and local produce to replace ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on patient menus.
- The initiative aims to improve patient health by offering fresher, locally sourced alternatives to UPFs, which have been linked to premature deaths in Brazil.
- This program builds on Brazil's successful implementation of UPF restrictions in schools, which began in 2020.
- Challenges include establishing infrastructure for fresh food, such as kitchens and cold storage, and overcoming ingrained public and parental reliance on UPFs.
- The move is gaining political traction, with other states and cities adopting similar goals, and a federal bill is under consideration to prohibit UPFs in hospital meals.
- Restrictions on UPF marketing and display in supermarkets are also being explored as additional strategies to promote healthier eating habits.