Healthy Choices: SA Health Food and Drink Policy for Staff and Visitors

We are seeking your feedback and advice on the draft Healthy Choices: SA Health Food and Drink Policy for Staff and Visitors.

What's being decided?

The Healthy Food and Drink Choices for Staff and Visitors in SA Health Facilities policy directive (introduced 2010) is currently being revised in line with the new SA Health Policy Framework, and the Healthy Food and Drink Choices in Public Sector Health Settings for Staff and Visitors: goals, principles and recommended nutritional standards (the Standards; endorsed by Health Council, 2020).

The Standards define healthy food and drink choices in line with evidence-based guidelines (the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating)

The Standards also reinforce the healthcare sectors leadership role in creating environments that support and promote healthy food and drink choices to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases.

The key differences include:

• a new target requiring the provision of at least 50% GREEN foods and drinks;
• diet drinks to comprise of no more than 25% of drinks available for sale or provided by any outlet;
• sugar-sweetened beverages are not to be supplied for sale or provision to staff or visitors in healthcare facilities, this is a recommendation of the Standards and is currently being implemented in other jurisdictions;
• a revised Healthy Choices: Food and drink classification guide, supported by a digital FoodChecker that can assess compliance of food and drink products, menus, vending machines and recipes against the nutrient criteria and Policy requirements (see Summary of updates and differences).

We are leading the revision of the Policy and is now seeking feedback from Chief Executives, Chief Operating Officers and targeted staff/stakeholders from across SA Health sites, Agencies and Attached Offices.

Background

Wellbeing SA's Health Promotion Branch are leading the update of the Policy via the SA Health policy approval procedure, as agreed at the SA Health Chief Executive's Council meeting (2 November 2020).

As part of the approved consultation process, a Healthy Food and Drink Policy Steering Group has been convened and has provided initial feedback on the Policy.

Staff and stakeholders targeted will include Executive teams, Corporate Governance, Head of Workforce, Board Chair Person, Food Service Management, Food Procurement, Volunteer Co-ordinators, and senior staff within medical, nursing and allied health roles.

Get involved

Before taking part in consultation please access the following key documents and further information:

• Draft Healthy Choices: SA Health Food and Drink Policy for Staff and Visitors
• Goals, principles and nutritional standards
• Call to action
• Summary of updates and differences

Have your say by:

• voting on our quick polls
• completing the survey
• join the discussion forum

What are the next steps?

The feedback received will be collated and used to finalise the draft Policy. A summary of the feedback received and how it was addressed will be uploaded onto YourSAy.