Public hospitals and residential aged care facilities are to be serving up food with better nutrition and quality food by the end of this year.
Acting Premier James Merlino said patients and residents will have access to higher quality, culturally diverse and locally sourced food under new standards for Victorian health services.
Mr Merlino said a panel of experts in dietetics and food service management and procurement had reviewed the current standards and made a number of recommendations.
“The review recommended that any nutrition and quality food standards consider the diverse needs of patients, as well as longer-term aged care residents,” Mr Merlino said.
“We know food provides a sense of wellbeing and emotional comfort for patients and residents, which is particularly important for those in longer-term care,” he said.
“The new food standards will have a particular focus on taste, appearance and variety of meals.”
Mr Merlino said the standards would ensure health services respected and celebrated different cultures through their meals, such as kosher or halal food.
He said nutrition standards would also be developed to meet the specific needs of Victoria’s youngest patients.
“Victorian health services will also be required to meet healthy food and drink guidelines for their vending machine and in-house managed cafes, however commercial retail food outlets located inside our hospitals will not be included,” he said.
“We know most health services are already serving up high quality, safe and nutritious meals but these updates will ensure nutritious, high quality food is consistently delivered in our hospitals and aged care facilities,” Mr Merlino said.
Information about the review and access to the 25-page report Review of food standards in Victorian public hospitals and residential aged care services can be found at this PS News link.
