As we continue to increase the healthy food and drink options available across Monash Health, we’re pleased to announce all our vending machines are now in line with the drinks component of the Department of Health’s Healthy Choices policy directive for Victorian public health services.
We know that good nutrition fuels both body and mind, leading to a healthier, happier Monash Health community. That’s why there are now even more delicious and nutritious options across our hospitals and sites for you, our patients and our visitors to enjoy.
While the policy is not mandatory for retail outlets at Monash Health, we continue to work with them to encourage and support a level of compliance in the delivery of Healthy Choices.
What is the Healthy Choices policy directive?
On September 30 2022, the Victorian Government’s Healthy Choices policy directive for Victorian Health Services became mandatory across the state for drinks sold in vending machines and function catering.
This policy directive seeks to make more healthy options available for employees, patients and visitors at health services across the state.
The traffic light system
Under the policy directive, items are classified according to a traffic light system, helping consumers make informed choices about the drinks they consume.
You’ll see these items labelled as “green”, “amber” or “red”.
- Items labelled “green” are the best choice for health, as they are typically good sources of nutrients and fiber and are lower in energy, saturated fat, sugar and/or salt. Examples of “green” drinks can include water and some low-fat milk drinks. These are the drinks we should consume regularly.
- Items labelled “amber” should be chosen carefully and be consumed only in moderation. “Amber” drinks can be good sources of nutrients, but might also contain saturated fat and/or added sugar and can lead to excess energy intake. “Amber” drinks include full fat milk or diet soft drinks made with artificial sweeteners.
- “Red” items are not essential to our diet. They do not provide many valuable nutrients and they are high in energy, saturated fat and/or sugar, and, if consumed too often or in large amounts, can lead to chronic diseases. “Red” drinks include sugar-sweetened beverages like soft drinks, which are high in sugar and increase the risk of dental carries. “Red” items should be consumed only in small amounts.
To conform with the policy directive, “red” drinks have been removed from vending machines and the number of “amber” drinks containing artificial sweeteners has been reduced.
Next steps
While the policy directive so far only covers drinks, Monash Health will work to comply with further aspects of the policy directive that will be enforced next year, including improved food options in vending machines.
We appreciate some of these changes might take time for our employees and visitors to adjust to, but we trust that you will find there are still plenty of tasty options available across Monash Health sites.
Approved by Adjunct Professor Katrina Nankervis