Minneapolis-based Allina Health announced internally that it plans to change its hospitals vending machines and cafeterias in ways that will promote and maintain community health, according to the Star Tribune.
Penny Wheeler, MD, Allina's president and CEO, wrote a memo Friday to employees that read: "Allina has made the decision to work toward eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages in our facilities and deep-fat fryers in our cafeterias. These are simple environmental changes that have been proven to make a significant difference in health."
Despite the potential elimination of sugary drinks and fries, the McDonald's at Allina's Abbott Northwestern Hospital in south Minneapolis is expected to stay.
The details of the health system's plans are still unclear, but eliminating sugary beverages is the goal. Workers and visitors will still be able to bring sugary drinks with them to Allina facilities, according to the report.
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