It’s a wrap for oversized chocolate bars in hospital ban

SUPER-SIZED chocolate bars will be driven out of hospital shops and canteens under new targets to tackle obesity, the head of NHS England has pledged.

Hospitals will receive extra funding if they limit most sweets and chocolates on sale to a maximum of 250 calories under the plans.

Simon Stevens said there was a need to fight the “super-size snack culture” as he set the new rules for sweets and chocolate sold in hospital canteens, shops and vending machines.

This means that most larger packs of chocolate and “grab bags” of sweets will be removed. The Royal Voluntary Service – the biggest hospital retailer across the UK – said that by introducing such schemes early, it had boosted sales of sushi and salad by 55 per cent, with fruit sales up by one quarter.

From next April, hospitals can receive a share of a £150million “health and well-being” fund if they achieve new targets. Under the rules, 80 per cent of sweets and chocolates on sale must contain 250 calories or less, and 80 per cent of sugary drinks must have less than 5g of added sugar per 100ml.

All food and drink sold in cafes, canteens, shops, kiosks and vending machines fall under the rules, which are an attempt to tackle obesity among NHS staff, and among the wider public.

Almost 700,000 NHS employees out of 1.3million are thought to be overweight or obese, along with two in three adults in the general public. The rules cover hot drinks – such as sweet coffees and sugary milk drinks, as well as fruit juices containing extra sugar.

Mr Stevens said: “The NHS is now stepping up action to combat the super-size snack culture which is causing an epidemic of obesity, preventable diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease and cancer.” The targets also cover savoury foods, and the NHS has ruled that 75 per cent of pre-packed sandwiches and other savoury pre-packed meals must be 400 calories or less, and must not exceed 5g of saturated fat per 100g.