WHSmith, Marks & Spencer, Greggs and other suppliers have pledged to begin voluntarily reducing sales of sugary drinks to 10% or less of their total drinks sales within hospitals over the coming year.
From April 2017, NHS England is introducing new national incentives for hospitals and other NHS providers to go further to improve food available to patients, visitors and staff. Progress has already been made to cut all price promotions on sugary drinks and foods high in fat, sugar or salt, end advertisements of these foods on NHS premises, stop sales at checkouts and ensure healthy food options are available at all times, including for those working night shifts.
According to the incentives, by April 2018 hospitals must have continued to make efforts to reduce foods high in fat, sugar and salt, such as:
- 60% of confectionery and sweets stocked do not exceed 250 kcal, rising to 80% of confectionery and sweets in 2018/19.
- 60% of pre-packed sandwiches and other savoury pre-packed meals to contain 400 kcal or less per serving and do not exceed 5g of saturated fat per 100g, moving to 75% in 2018/19.
