Food and Food Purchasing: A Role for Health Care

Because of its size and purchasing power, the health care industry can provide market leadership by adopting food purchasing policies and practices that steer the entire food system in more positive directions. Hospitals and health care systems can buy and provide food in their facilities in ways that help create a model for wellness at the individual, community, and national levels. Providing access to healthier food promotes wellness among patients, visitors and staff. Buying food produced in ways that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible also supports a food system that ultimately benefits healthier individuals and communities.