HealthPartners reduces sugar-sweetened beverages to improve public health

All HealthPartners facilities to implement 'Healthy Beverages in Healthcare' effort by 2016

Bloomington, Minn. – June 29, 2015 – In an effort to promote better health for patients, visitors and staff, HealthPartners has announced plans to reduce sugar–sweetened beverages (SSB) across the organization by January 1, 2016.

The organization is committed to removing at least 80 percent of sugary beverage options across all HealthPartners hospitals and clinics. In addition, Methodist Hospital and all Park Nicollet clinics will become 100 percent sugary beverage–free. This initiative follows in the footsteps of Hudson Hospital, which has been 100 percent sugary beverage–free since last year.

HealthPartners is one of the first health care providers in Wisconsin or Minnesota to implement the Healthy Beverages in Healthcare initiative. A study by California Center for Public Health Advocacy and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that 24 percent of adults drink one or more non–diet sodas a day, and these adults are 27 percent more likely to be overweight. In addition, SSBs have been shown to cause greater risk of serious diseases including Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, pancreatic cancer and cardiovascular disease.

“Our goal with these initiatives is to make the better choice the easy choice, and to help improve health in the communities we serve,” said Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners President and CEO.

The result of a three–year phase–in, this is the latest in a line of initiatives designed to encourage healthy food and beverage choices throughout all HealthPartners and Park Nicollet hospitals and clinics, which also includes serving fresh local produce, meat and poultry whenever possible.