Junk food vending machines in Canberra hospitals - why?

JC said :

TuggLife said :

For what it’s worth, I think there is scope for hospitals to set a better example, even maintaining their existing vending contract with Coca Cola (or Sodexho, Serco, Bidvest or whoever), and retaining vending machines as a revenue stream. For example, water and 100% juice could be prominently placed (and be the cheapest option), there could be more diet options available (not just cola), and the size of the bottles could be limited to 450ml or cans only.

100% juice? Isn’t that as bad as coke for sugar.

Fruit juice is high in sugar, but it does have at least some nutritional value, unlike Coke. Similar guidelines in NSW (Live Life Well @ Health for public hospitals, and Fresh Tastes @ School for public schools) recommend juice as an ‘Amber’ item, provided the serving size is limited to less than 300ml, and that it contains no more than 300kj per serve. The argument for including juice is that research has found that excluding it as an option doesn’t mean that sales or consumption of water increase. Having said that, a bottle of water (or a piece of fruit) is a better option every time.

my public service offices have just had our vending machines with chips choc and coke removed through lack of patronage. it can be up to people to have a choice to decline the offered fare.

but yes, if hospitals, or anywhere else, is to host vending machines then there ought to be more choice…

zllauh said :

even doctors say that one should eat junk food once a week to keep his immune system strong. having all the medicines stuffed up in the hospital is enough rather than stuffing not wanted healthy food to a patient

Such wisdom! And they scoff about Canberra’s denizens.

JC said :

TuggLife said :

For what it’s worth, I think there is scope for hospitals to set a better example, even maintaining their existing vending contract with Coca Cola (or Sodexho, Serco, Bidvest or whoever), and retaining vending machines as a revenue stream. For example, water and 100% juice could be prominently placed (and be the cheapest option), there could be more diet options available (not just cola), and the size of the bottles could be limited to 450ml or cans only.

100% juice? Isn’t that as bad as coke for sugar.

I was going to pop up on that one except I’ve given up even arguing this one with my wife.

It’s one of those “sounds like” healthy choices that people make because thinking why anything is actually good or bad for you is all too difficult.

Whats the usual argument?

Its my body I have the right to choose…

Yeah hospitals are place you should get healthy in. But hospitals are a place you never want to be, save the maternity ward. You’re there because you or someone else is sick, and your/they will spend the whole time dodging MRSA so they don’t come out more sick.

Offer healthy choices of course, if only for those who work there day in and out. But don’t ban the other stuff, sometimes someone just wants something warm or sweet, something comforting at any hour.

TuggLife said :

For what it’s worth, I think there is scope for hospitals to set a better example, even maintaining their existing vending contract with Coca Cola (or Sodexho, Serco, Bidvest or whoever), and retaining vending machines as a revenue stream. For example, water and 100% juice could be prominently placed (and be the cheapest option), there could be more diet options available (not just cola), and the size of the bottles could be limited to 450ml or cans only.

100% juice? Isn’t that as bad as coke for sugar.

Evilomlap said :

John Moulis said :

zllauh said :

even doctors say that one should eat junk food once a week to keep his immune system strong.

Name one!

Dr Nick Riviera. I think he practices in Springfield.

Yeap he’s in my tapped out town .

John Moulis said :

zllauh said :

even doctors say that one should eat junk food once a week to keep his immune system strong.

Name one!

Dr Nick Riviera. I think he practices in Springfield.

zllauh said :

even doctors say that one should eat junk food once a week to keep his immune system strong.

Name one!

Wouldn’t these be used predominantly by visitors and staff, not patients? I’ve used them while waiting in A&E with a kid or parent waiting to be seen after hours when the café and shop are closed. From memory they did used to have the sanger and fruit ones, but who knows how long ago that was. I don’t buy premade sangers at a servo, I’m certainly not buying them from a vending machine.

even doctors say that one should eat junk food once a week to keep his immune system strong. having all the medicines stuffed up in the hospital is enough rather than stuffing not wanted healthy food to a patient

loumin8 said :

I think the argument here is not whether or not a consumer should have access or a choice to consume junk foods in a hospital, the concern is that patients do not have access to healthy alternatives. Moreover, that hospitals have contracts in place with junk food providers that effectively lock out smaller providers.
The other question to consider is- does the Hospital have a duty of care to its patients? Do they have a responsibility to ensure that patients are consuming healthy foods and drinks ?
There is growing evidence out there that lifestyle diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancers are all linked to junk food consumption, so putting the candy in the hospital seems counter intuitive akin to to allowing drug addicts access to drugs in rehab or as jsm2090 put it selling cigarettes in a pharmacy.

+1

I think the argument here is not whether or not a consumer should have access or a choice to consume junk foods in a hospital, the concern is that patients do not have access to healthy alternatives. Moreover, that hospitals have contracts in place with junk food providers that effectively lock out smaller providers.
The other question to consider is- does the Hospital have a duty of care to its patients? Do they have a responsibility to ensure that patients are consuming healthy foods and drinks ?
There is growing evidence out there that lifestyle diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancers are all linked to junk food consumption, so putting the candy in the hospital seems counter intuitive akin to to allowing drug addicts access to drugs in rehab or as jsm2090 put it selling cigarettes in a pharmacy.

Solidarity said :

rubaiyat said :

Solidarity said :

People at hospital are stressed and frustrated enough, they don’t need to have have cr*p like “healthy choices” forced upon them. Vending machines are stocked based on what sells the best, the people have spoken, let them be.

Put back the cigarette vending machines.

All those patients leaning on their drips outside won’t have to walk as far to undo all the work, time and money the staff inside have just spent on them.

TCH is not a “junk food free” campus.

Well that’s alright then, as long as it isn’t in the wrong CATEGORY!

The venders have spoken, having removed all healthy options because they either are too bulky, perishable, inconvenient to package, awkward to fill the machines with and not ludicrously profitable because they use quality ingredients.

It’s not like the healthy options are going to jump out of the machines and force you to eat them!

This post is timely. It seems there is no limit to the pedalling of junk food. Just today I was at the self-serve checkout at Woolworths and a staff member came up to me and asked if I wanted a free bag of chips. In her hand was one of those upmarket brands of crisps with sea salt. I said no, a response she probably thought she’d never get. Sadly I suspect that the next customer she asked would have accepted it.

rubaiyat said :

Solidarity said :

People at hospital are stressed and frustrated enough, they don’t need to have have cr*p like “healthy choices” forced upon them. Vending machines are stocked based on what sells the best, the people have spoken, let them be.

Put back the cigarette vending machines.

All those patients leaning on their drips outside won’t have to walk as far to undo all the work, time and money the staff inside have just spent on them.

TCH is not a “junk food free” campus.

It’s OK – ACT Health are ‘considering a proposal…(of) recommendations released in a discussion paper’ (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/vending-machine-that-offers-healthy-alternative-20130512-2jgg2.html)

I don’t mind if the Coke and chips remain, but I do wish there were some substantial, healthy options available, or longer hours in the cafes. Long ago, I worked in a hospital that had a fancy vending machine that was loaded up by the kitchen with sandwiches, salads, cheese and crackers, fruit salad and low-fat yoghurts – it was great to be able to get something substantial during a night shift that wasn’t loaded with sugar or fat.

For what it’s worth, I think there is scope for hospitals to set a better example, even maintaining their existing vending contract with Coca Cola (or Sodexho, Serco, Bidvest or whoever), and retaining vending machines as a revenue stream. For example, water and 100% juice could be prominently placed (and be the cheapest option), there could be more diet options available (not just cola), and the size of the bottles could be limited to 450ml or cans only.

jsm2090 said :

Indeed. Studies have shown that patients recover much more quickly from injury/illness when a holistic approach to recovery is taken, which includes patient diet and the environment of the care, not just treatment itself. It could be worse- I remember moving to the US a couple of years ago and seeing cigarettes being sold in pharmacies. I was in awe of the acceptance.

A little pharmacy next door to my hotel in NY had the cigarettes right next to the nicotine patches and gum. I couldn’t help but laugh at them covering all the bases. They also sold 40 ounce beers in their fridge which also had probiotics and other vitamins alongside. I could picture a cheesy, square-jawed actor in a lab coat on television, “whether you’re living a healthy lifestyle, or killing yourself slowly, the Manhattan Corner Drug Market has you covered!”

I have always liked that they call pharmacies ‘drug stores’ though. Why bother with euphemisms?

It’s crazy that hospitals even consider contracts with companies like Coca Cola. Hospitals are where you end up if you eat too many Coca Cola products. Outrageous.

Either way, if the worst thing that happens to you while in hospital is drinking Coke, you’re probably not doing too badly: http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/all-too-often-going-to-the-hospital-makes-you-sicker_55b7dcb6e4b0074ba5a68a5b

Solidarity said :

People at hospital are stressed and frustrated enough, they don’t need to have have cr*p like “healthy choices” forced upon them. Vending machines are stocked based on what sells the best, the people have spoken, let them be.

Put back the cigarette vending machines.

All those patients leaning on their drips outside won’t have to walk as far to undo all the work, time and money the staff inside have just spent on them.

It’s a complete non-issue.

Although come to think of it; the only time I ever use vending machines – and the only time I ever drink coke or energy drinks – is when I’m at the Children’s Hospital in Randwick for my son. We drive up around 4am so I usually grab a Red Bull or Coke for the drive back to Canberra in the afternoon….

We should stop these vending machines accosting people, forcing them to put their money in and shoving chocolate bars down their throat.

Or, leave them and let people make their own choices. As with the poker machine debate, I’m tired of seeing all these stupid suggestions to protect people from themselves. It’s why the gene pool seems so shallow and in need of chlorine these days.

The simple fact is the healthy options vending machines don’t sell very well. Replacing the junk food ones with healthy options doesn’t work either, because generally speaking, people who are after a healthy diet and lifestyle don’t tend to use vending machines, the same way people who follow a healthy diet don’t tend to frequent McDonalds, despite the fact Maccas offers salads.

People at hospital are stressed and frustrated enough, they don’t need to have have cr*p like “healthy choices” forced upon them. Vending machines are stocked based on what sells the best, the people have spoken, let them be.

While there should be vending machines with healthy options the soft drink and cola ones should remain. Vending machines just shouldn’t sell bottled water in Canberra. Our tap water is great and a tap and cups and glasses should be available (I believe there are water coolers in the hospitals and nurses will provide water.
One would suggest that the vending machines aren’t being used too much by patients rather their families going through a tough time. Long stressful times… High energy, high calorie food is usually needed and extra appriciated at this time.

I have a chronic condition and on bad days where I’m spending all my energy fighting the pain soft drinks (particularly coke) provide both the caffiene hit and additional energy in a managable way. I know quite a few people who don’t drink coke regularly but use it to assist with pain management. Caffiene ingested with panadol actually speeds the absorbsion of pain killers and is also often used as a pre painkiller alternative for people with chronic pain issues.

Indeed. Studies have shown that patients recover much more quickly from injury/illness when a holistic approach to recovery is taken, which includes patient diet and the environment of the care, not just treatment itself. It could be worse- I remember moving to the US a couple of years ago and seeing cigarettes being sold in pharmacies. I was in awe of the acceptance.