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- Title
The origins of hospital food: Where does it come from and what do staff, patients and suppliers think about local food?
- Authors
Carino, Stefanie; Misale, Georgia; Egan, Meredith; Collins, Jorja
- Abstract
Aims: To identify the origin of fresh and minimally processed foods served to hospital patients, and explore the challenges and enablers to local food procurement in hospitals. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted in a healthcare network in Victoria, Australia. Packaging labels and product information were used to audit fresh and minimally processed foods purchased in 1 week. Processed food items and meals made offsite were not audited. Interviews were conducted with patients, staff and suppliers to explore their perspectives towards local food in hospitals. Framework analysis was used to identify themes. Results: Of 105 food products audited, 32% were imported, 25% were 'local' from Victoria and the remaining 43% were from within Australia (excluding Victoria). Qualitative interviews revealed several challenges including: increased cost of local food items, inconsistent supply and variable quality of local produce, difficulty accessing origin information, and lack of autonomy for hospitals to make food procurement choices. Enablers included: conducting a food origin audit to increase awareness, group purchasing organisation prioritising local food suppliers, and suppliers valuing local produce. Conclusion: A food origin audit and interviews with stakeholders provided a rich understanding of current practices and how to increase local food procurement.
- Subjects
VICTORIA; AUSTRALIA; AUDITING; FOOD labeling; ATTITUDES of medical personnel; RESEARCH methodology; STAKEHOLDER analysis; INTERVIEWING; PATIENTS' attitudes; PACKAGED foods; FOOD supply; HOSPITAL food service; FOOD; ACCESS to information; AUTONOMY (Psychology); SOUND recordings; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; NATURAL foods; THEMATIC analysis; FOOD quality; DATA analysis software; JUDGMENT sampling
- Publication
Nutrition & Dietetics, 2023, Vol 80, Issue 2, p154
- ISSN
1446-6368
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/1747-0080.12802