RASHIDA YOSUFZAI
March 2, 2017
Australian Associated Press
Craving a thirst-quenching sugary pick-me-up? Don’t expect this western Sydney public hospital to help.
In a first for Sydney, Westmead Hospital has begun a three-month trial ban on the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks from its vending machines or food outlets.
The hospital says it wants to lead by example as sugar over-consumption is a major contributor to obesity in its area.
Nearly half of western Sydney adults and a quarter of children are overweight or obese.
The ban doesn’t apply to natural fruit juice or flavoured milk because they are considered to have some nutritional value.
District deputy director of population health Christine Newman says sugary drinks contain empty calories, making it easy to consume lots of sugar without realising it.
“It doesn’t help you in an way,” she told AAP.
“We are looking at providing healthier choices.”
The ban follows a similar ban imposed by 13 health services in Victoria which last year discontinued the sale of sugar-loaded drinks, from Geelong, Warrnambool, Portland and Hamilton.
If the trial is successful, it will be rolled out to other nearby hospitals including Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Auburn.
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