Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has warned that hospitals serving sugary drinks and foods, including Jell-O, could lose federal funding. The Department of Health and Human Services sent a memo on March 30 urging hospitals to comply with the Department of Agriculture's 2025-2030 dietary guidelines, which recommend limiting sugary, ultra-processed foods.
Kennedy stated at a press conference last month that hospitals should align their food purchases with the guidelines to maintain eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare payments. He criticised the practice of giving sick patients Jell-O, Cheerios, rubber chicken, and sugary drinks. Officials have since threatened to withhold millions in federal funding from non-compliant facilities, according to a KFF Health News report published via CBS News.
However, experts question the enforceability of the threat. Dietitian and research scientist Kevin Klatt described it as “political theatre”, noting that HHS lacks the power to implement such measures. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon confirmed the March 30 update to Conditions of Participation, stating that patient food in hospitals must adhere to dietary guidelines, and commended hospitals that have already improved their offerings.
Calley Means, a top adviser to Kennedy, urged the public to report hospitals serving sugary drinks via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website. In a social media post, he warned that such hospitals are out of compliance and risk losing reimbursements. He later criticised Democrats for defending the practice of serving junk food to patients, citing that 94% of American patients show signs of metabolic dysfunction.
