Good food may be coming to more patients’ plates thanks to the work of many area activists and health care workers.

photo by Nathan Etherington

That food in hospitals should be nourishing and enjoyable is a seeming no brainer. Yet somehow we’ve let hospital meals become the definition of unappealing, unenjoyable and often remarkably unhealthy food (despite the valiant efforts of hospital dietians to adhere to the letter of the Canada Food Guide).

Thankfully, if recent events in Toronto are anything to go by, this may be in the process of changing.

At the end of March the Burger King franchise inside the Hospital for Sick Children shut down its deep-fryer for good. Burger King’s lease was not renewed at the end of a bidding “process meant to offer healthier food options to visitors and staff” according to a Globe and Mail article. You can still find Pizza Pizza and Subway in Sick Kid’s main foyer, but that fact that the health impact of hospital food was even considered is a major step for a sector that is largely driven by the bottom line and budget constraints.

On average Ontario long-term care facilities spend $7.33 per person per day on raw food. Hospitals are allocated the same amount or less, both sums smaller than the average amount spent by correctional facilities on food per inmate per day. Only around 60% of Ontario patients are satisfied with the food they receive and wastage rates are alarming. Canadian statistics are hard to come by but a UK study found that food wastage ranged from 17% and 67%. In a healthcare system stretched to the financial limit issues of satisfaction and waste can become secondary concerns.

For the Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare (CCGH), however, finding ways to address these secondary concerns is a top priority.

The CCGH is making healthy and sustainable hospital food one of their main objectives in their bid to green Canadian healthcare. Their Local and Sustainable Foods campaign is focusing on shifting hospital food services and procurement to not only be better for patients but to also contribute to sustainable local food economies. In late April CCGH organized the first conference of its kind in Canada bringing together over 60 participants from across the hospital food chain. Group purchasing organizations, major food service contractors including Aramark and Sysco, hospital administrators and food service staff met for a day of open discussion about what is needed, desired and possible in Ontario hospital food systems.

As various pilot initiatives push forward and different facilities consider integrating more local and sustainable food into their patient and cafeteria meals, public support and input are critical. Stay tuned to the Food Forward blog for updates on the evolution of hospital food in Toronto and beyond.

Linda has a passion for healthy, sustainable food. She volunteers with Food Forward – please contact her if you are interested in learning more about hospital food or being involved in a campaign: linda@pushfoodforward.com

“The Ontario government could help build an infrastructure for a regional food economy, a regional system to support diversified farming, shorten the food chain and reduce the carbon footprint.” Betsy Donald. 2009. “From Kraft to Craft: Innovation and Creativity in Ontario’s Food Economy.” Toronto, Martin Prosperity Institute.

The April 6th 2009 provincial announcement of $24 million to “develop the logistics to get more Ontario-grown food into the province’s schools, hospitals, food service companies and other institutions” is a timely investment in the local food economy. Demand for local food is at an all-time high. Across Ontario, public interest groups, stakeholder organizations and food enterprises have been developing innovative ways to get local food to consumers. Targeted investment in local sustainable food production, processing and procurement will spur economic growth across the province, creating new green jobs. The Government of Ontario can create the conditions for Ontario producers to access new markets and stimulate food enterprise development. Sustain Ontario – The Alliance for Healthy Food and Farming, is launching the “Local Food, Local Jobs” initiative to support a local and sustainable food system for Ontario.

Sustain Ontario recommends key investments over the next three years in local food infrastructure and programs that stimulate regional food economies across the province.

- Encourage relevant ministries to co-operate on the development and execution of a province-wide local food strategy.

- Support regional civil society groups, stakeholder organizations and enterprises to scale-up their local food and agriculture efforts, and develop innovative partnership models to build supply chains for local food.

- Encourage the purchasing of local and local sustainable food in all public sector food procurement contracts. Provide transition funding for institutions to develop local supply chain linkages.

- Re-establish infrastructure to support the local food economy by developing regional food processing, abattoirs and distribution facilities, and by enabling on-farm post-harvest handling and other value-added activities.

- Support farmers to transition to meet the surging demand for local food, and encourage production practices that shorten the food chain and reduce the carbon footprint.

The province of Ontario should balance the investment of $24 million for local food procurement between  priority areas:

Developing and executing a province-wide local food strategy – $3 million.

Transitional funding for farmers and institutions to develop local supply chain linkages – $7 million.

Supporting civil society groups, stakeholder organizations and enterprises to scale-up their regional food and agriculture efforts, and develop innovative partnership models to build supply chains for local and local sustainable food – $7 million.

Re-establishing infrastructure to support regional food economies across the province – $7 million.

Let us know what you think of these recommendations by commenting below.

The McGuinty government is investing $24 million over three years to develop the logistics to get more Ontario-grown food into the province’s schools, hospitals, food service companies and other institutions. This will help Ontario farmers market and sell their products to more consumers.

Premier of Ontario – News Release – More Ontario-Grown Food In Schools, Hospitals.

CBC article