HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins celebrated the hospital’s commitment to improving patient nutrition and encouraged hospitals nationwide to join the initiative.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, FLORIDA\u2014JULY 16, 2026\u2014U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins at Tampa General Hospital to celebrate the hospital’s signing of the Trump Administration’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/a>.<\/p>\n At Tampa General Hospital, Secretary Kennedy recognized the hospital for leading the way in improving patient nutrition and serving healthier food. He joined Tampa General Hospital (TGH) President and CEO John Couris, Vice President of Operations Donna Tope, award-winning Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, and hospital staff for a ceremonial signing of the pledge and press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cHospitals exist to heal people, and the food they serve should help patients recover\u2014not contribute to the chronic disease that brought so many there in the first place,\u201d said Secretary Kennedy. \u201cThat’s why the Trump administration launched the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge. Every patient deserves real, nutritious food that supports healing. I commend Tampa General Hospital for leading by example and encourage every hospital to join us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReal food starts with America\u2019s farmers and ranchers, who produce the safest, most abundant food supply in the world,\u201d said Secretary Rollins. \u201cPresident Trump has made it clear that making America healthy again begins with putting wholesome, American-grown food back at the center of our institutions. USDA is proud to partner with Secretary Kennedy and HHS to ensure more wholesome, nutrient-dense food reaches our schools, hospitals, and communities. We are thrilled Tampa General is joining this pledge, because when we connect patients and families with American-grown foods, we strengthen public health while supporting the hardworking producers who make it all possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere at Tampa General, we know that food is medicine. What our patients eat has a direct impact on their health, their recovery and their long-term wellness. By introducing patients to world-class, nutrient-dense, wholesome meals during their stay, we\u2019re not only accelerating recovery, but we\u2019re giving them the best possible chance at the best possible outcomes. And, we\u2019re establishing a foundation for healthy eating long after discharge,\u201d said TGH President and CEO Couris. \u201cIt\u2019s a true privilege to welcome Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins to witness this transformation in action. We\u2019re grateful for their efforts to spotlight the good work of this team and lead the nation in elevating the quality of food served in hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n Secretary Kennedy also toured Tampa General Hospital’s cafeteria, where Chef Zakarian redesigned the menu in 2025 around the principle that food is medicine.<\/p>\n The Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge<\/a> is the latest step in Secretary Kennedy’s effort to put nutrition and real food at the center of President Trump’s mission to Make America Healthy Again:<\/p>\n In January, HHS and USDA released<\/a> the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025\u20132030, marking the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades.In June, Secretary Kennedy announced<\/a> that 73 hospitals had signed the Trump Administration’s Nutrition Education Pledge, committing to incorporate at least 40 hours of nutrition education\u2014or its competency equivalent\u2014into graduation requirements beginning this fall.Eight leading medical accrediting, assessment, and board organizations also voluntarily committed<\/a> to strengthening nutrition requirements across medical education, competency evaluations, training, and residency programs.Last year, HHS announced<\/a> a series of new measures to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation\u2019s food supply\u2014a significant milestone in the administration\u2019s broader initiative to Make America Healthy Again.<\/p>\n