The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a memo directing hospital foodservice teams to align their programs with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The memo calls on hospital foodservice teams to reduce ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates and added sugars in meals.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr. announced the memo while visiting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami as part of his ‘Take Back Your Health’ tour.
While there, he also announced the launch of a Florida farm-to-hospital partnership program. Developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, the program aims to increase hospitals’ access to local foods by streamlining sourcing pathways for local producers, providing workforce and training programs on food preparation and nutrition, and more.
“Anytime we can encourage connecting our Florida farmers with customers is a triple win. We get healthy food to consumers, we support our local economy, and we strengthen our national security through domestic supply,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson in a statement. “Florida’s Department of Agriculture has a successful program for food banks, and we stand ready to expand our Farmers Feeding Florida program to our hospitals and patients. We are grateful for the leadership of President Trump and his administration for this effort.”
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital announced its participation in the initiative and signed a first-of-its-kind pledge committing to advancing nutrition through partnering with farmers in the state.
“On behalf of Nicklaus Children’s, we thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their commitment to the health and wellness of families. We know that the foundation of lifelong health begins with nutrition, which is why Nicklaus Children’s is proud to be the first health care organization in Florida to sign the Food is Health: Take Back Your Health pledge,” said Matthew A. Love, president and CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Health System, in a statement. “Our food and nutrition efforts have led the way for many years, and we remain committed as part of this national program to further elevate nutrition as a critical component of care. By partnering with Florida’s agricultural community, we are enhancing the quality and freshness of the food we serve our patients, strengthening the state’s economy by keeping business local, and reinforcing our commitment to creating healthier futures for the children and families we serve.”
Alongside hospital foodservice programs, the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have also impacted school foodservice. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is in the process of updating its School Nutrition Standards to reflect the guidelines. Many school nutrition operators are worried about the forthcoming changes to the school nutrition requirements, citing rising costs as one of their top concerns.
