Britain's hospitals spending millions on junk food

SOME of Britain's biggest hospitals spent £3million on sweets, cakes, biscuits and fizzy drinks last year.

Official records showed unhealthy snacks and drinks were still being sold to patients, staff and visitors despite repeated calls for a ban on vending machines by the British Medical Association (BMA).

Data released under Freedom of Information requests by 33 NHS Trusts revealed they spent a combined £2.5million in 2023/24 and £3million in 2024/25 on these products.

But this is believed to be just the tip of an iceberg and extrapolated across all 200 NHS Trusts in England, it would equate to an estimated spend of £18.2million last year.

The highest spending trusts on unhealthy snacks included Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, which was £383,000 in 2023/24, the most up-to-date figure it provided, and Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which was £406,952 in 2024/25.

Across the 33 Trusts which provided details, the top ten averaged £190,000 on confectionery and sugarsweetened beverages in 2023/24, increasing to £233,000 in 2024/25.

Professor David Strain, BMA Board of Science Chair, said: "The NHS should be leading by example and not spending nearly £20million a year on confectionery, cakes, biscuits and sugar-sweetened beverages in hospitals for staff, patients and visitors to consume.

"Hospitals are places of care and recovery, and the availability and promotion of unhealthy food and drink within these settings goes against everything the NHS stands for as well as undermining public health messages and the wellbeing of patients and staff."

He added: "The BMA has long called for tighter restrictions on the sale and marketing of high-sugar products in healthcare environments, and we continue to urge NHS trusts to prioritise nutritious, balanced food options in all hospital outlets over sugar and salt laden snacks."

Dr Aseem Malhotra, a leading heart doctor who has also campaigned for healthier hospital food, said: "Sugar and junk food when consumed regularly is toxic to the body and the last place that should be serving or legitimising it are hospitals.

"Junk food is at the root of our obesity and chronic disease pandemic and this is appalling."

Dr David Unwin, an expert in obesity for the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "This is outrageous. We have people who are really unwell, especially those with type 2 diabetes who are really struggling to avoid foods that put up their blood sugar.

"If they cannot get to these vending machines there are also people pushing trolleys around on the wards selling these foods. It's like drug dealing for those patients who are at a critical time in their health.

"Hospitals should be cathedrals to good health and good decision making."

Tam Fry, chair of the National Obesity Forum, added: "There should be limits on the rubbish sold in hospital vending machines. It should also be clear that the ultra processed foods which are high in sugar, fat and salt sold in these machines are not for patients.

"Hospitals should be helping patients get better and these foods are a cause of many health problems and should be strictly controlled."

The FOI requests also asked trusts for details of markups and profits. Several reported applying margins of around 20% but many did not provide profit data.

The FOI requests also asked trusts for details of markups and profits. Several reported applying margins of around 20% but many did not provide profit data.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said it made a £92,000 profit on a £117,000 spend.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust reported a 20% markup but said sales still resulted in a loss.

Sussex Partnership NHS Trust also reported a loss of £8,000 on a £30,000 spend.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust disclosed spending £171,214 in 2023/24 and £175,253 in 2024/25, with markups ranging from 6% to 15%. However, it said its till systems did not allow it to calculate profits.

Some trusts said profits from retail sales are reinvested into hospital services. Others noted that demand from staff and visitors remains high.

The findings come amid growing concern about the impact of ultraprocessed foods on public health.

Research published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology last year found more than half of the average UK diet now consists of ultraprocessed foods.

The report highlighted associations between high intakes of such foods and increased risks of obesity, type2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Alison Wyld, executive director of finance and estates at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, said: "While our reported spend may appear high, it reflects the scale of our organisation and the fact that we operate our retail and catering services in-house - unlike many trusts that subcontract to external providers.

"All food and drink we offer is designed to contribute to a balanced, nutritious diet and meets national Government Buying Standards."

The Royal Devon hospital trust declined to comment.