Hospital launches healthy beverage initiative

San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center will no longer sell or provide any sugar-sweetened beverages on campus. The hospital's new policy aligns with the city’s new legislation requiring health warnings on soda advertisements, and banning of sugar-sweetened beverage advertisements on publicly owned property.

Sue Currin, chief executive officer at SFGH, said in a statement that the change would support patients and the community by offering healthier drinks that do not promote obesity, tooth decay and chronic disease.

“Our patients disproportionately suffer from chronic diseases, and we know that consuming sugar sweetened beverages does not help. With the healthy beverage initiative, we are making it easier for people on campus to make better choices about what to drink,” Currin said.

The policy extends to patient meals, the cafeteria, vending machines, gift shops and food trucks. SFGH will continue to offer beverages such as water, carbonated water, flavored waters, milk, tea, coffee, diet soft drinks, and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices.