Tampa General Hospital signed the Trump Administration’s Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge, with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins celebrating the commitment on July 16 at the hospital in Tampa, Florida.
Kennedy joined Tampa General Hospital President and CEO John Couris, Vice President of Operations Donna Tope, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, and hospital staff for a ceremonial signing and press conference recognizing the hospital’s efforts to serve healthier food to patients. “Hospitals exist to heal people, and the food they serve should help patients recover—not contribute to the chronic disease that brought so many there in the first place,” said Kennedy. “That’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.”
Rollins said, “Real food starts with America’s farmers and ranchers, who produce the safest, most abundant food supply in the world… USDA is proud to partner with Secretary Kennedy and HHS to ensure more wholesome, nutrient-dense food reaches our schools, hospitals, and communities.” She added that connecting patients with American-grown foods strengthens public health while supporting producers.
Couris said, “Here at Tampa General, we know that food is medicine… By introducing patients to world-class, nutrient-dense, wholesome meals during their stay… we’re establishing a foundation for healthy eating long after discharge.” Chef Zakarian redesigned Tampa General’s cafeteria menu in 2025 around this principle.
The Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge is part of broader efforts led by Kennedy under President Trump’s initiative to Make America Healthy Again. Recent actions include new Dietary Guidelines for Americans released in January 2026; an announcement in June that 73 hospitals have committed to incorporating at least 40 hours of nutrition education into graduation requirements; voluntary commitments from eight medical accrediting organizations; and measures announced last year by HHS aimed at phasing out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from America’s food supply.
A full list of HHS actions related to nutrition can be found on HHS.gov/nutrition.