Nova Scotia hospitals' Tim Hortons rules set precedent for eastern Ontario
Tim Hortons inside N.S. hospitals stopped selling donuts, Timbits, other baked goods in 2011
A move to feature healthier food in eastern Ontario hospitals follows Nova Scotia's lead as the province's health authority has gone as far as banning most baked goods at hospital-run Tim Hortons.
On Wednesday, the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) announced 20 hospitals in eastern Ontario were joining together to improve the menus at hospital cafeterias.
The hospitals will also negotiate with privately-run businesses such as Tim Hortons and Second Cup to remove unhealthy food options, according to the LHIN.
The hospitals aim to feature healthier menus by Christmas.
There is a precedent for such a move set in Nova Scotia and New York City. Nova Scotia began its transition to healthy food in 2009, according to Brian Rankine, director of managed services at the Capital Health Authority in Nova Scotia.
"We have quite a restricted menu but it's really focused on healthy food," Rankine told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning.
"It was quite a process, but in 2011 we discontinued offering any of the fried products that Tim Hortons offered."
Yes, you read that correctly. Nova Scotia negotiated with Tim Hortons to remove all donuts, Timbits and other foods that didn't meet menu requirements from the hospital-run coffee shops.
It took about a year but 76 per cent of the Tim Hortons sales in hospitals had been from coffee, tea and other beverages, Rankine said.
'A few did call it a nanny state,' health official says
The coffee shop now limits its food sales to four types of muffins, tea biscuits and a trail mix cookie.
"Some folks didn't agree with it and they certainly didn't like it, but it was far less than what we anticipated," he added.
"A few did call it a nanny state and we should be able to choose what we want in life ... but the majority of the people recognized we are doing the right thing."
Hospitals also feature smoothie bars that run under a defined healthy criteria and worked with a company to sell baked goods like cinnamon buns and muffins made using sweet potatoes.
Vending machines featuring pop, candy, chocolate bars and potato chips have disappeared, as well.
This has led to a loss in revenue from hospital concessions, which Nova Scotia health officials are trying to offset in other ways.