The vending machines installed in Spanish hospitals mostly offer products with poor nutritional quality. According to a study by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), conducted in 171 vending machines located in the Emergency rooms of 52 hospital centers, between 60 and 70 percent of the available foods are considered unhealthy.
"A very concerning result considering the spaces dedicated to health protection that receive thousands of patients and companions every day who, in many cases, depend on this offer during long waits," warns the organization.
The OCU denounces that the offer is dominated by sweets, chocolate bars, industrial pastries, savory snacks, and soft drinks, while fresh products and those more suitable from a nutritional point of view barely appear. Fruits, salads, yogurts, or natural nuts only represent between 10 and 15% of the available items and, in certain hospitals, do not even reach 2%.
"And the rest of the offer, which accounts for between 20 and 25% of the products, are less healthy options, such as sandwiches, juices, and sugary dairy drinks," it adds.
The report also detects significant deficiencies in free access to water. Only 9 of the 52 analyzed hospitals had accessible drinking water fountains in the studied areas. "This circumstance forces users to resort to bottled water or sugary or sweetened soft drinks, increasing economic expenditure and the environmental impact associated with the consumption of single-use containers," warns the OCU.
Another "additional problem" is the pricing policy, which does not encourage healthy choices. In 44 percent of the mixed machines examined, the cheapest product was a nutritionally unadvisable option, such as pastries or savory snacks, with prices between 0.35 and 1.50 euros. In contrast, fresh foods, such as a portion of chopped fruit or a small packaged salad, are priced between 1.50 and 2.50 euros.
In the beverage section, a bottle of water has an average price of 0.95 euros and must compete with a wide range of soft drinks and ready-to-consume chilled coffees, whose habitual consumption is not considered appropriate.
The OCU demands to accelerate the new Consumer regulations
In this scenario, the OCU demands that the Ministry of Consumption expedite the approval of the decree that aims to prioritize healthy foods and guarantee access to sources of drinking water in health centers, residences, libraries, sports facilities, and other spaces owned by the public or managed through concession.
The draft of the regulation contemplates that, at a minimum, 80 percent of the products offered in vending machines be healthy. Less recommended foods may still be present, but they must be placed in secondary, less visible locations. In addition, the future regulation seeks to improve access to water by installing fountains and promoting that hot beverages be offered without sugar by default.
For the OCU, the implementation of this package of measures represents "an opportunity" to move towards healthier, more sustainable food environments aligned with public health objectives. "Hospitals not only provide healthcare but must also actively contribute to preventing diseases and facilitating healthy lifestyle habits, especially among vulnerable people," it concludes.