Spectrum Health Eliminates Trans Fats

Hospitals Achieve 2010 Goal Initiated by MHA

Spectrum Health hospitals succeeded in eliminating industrial trans fats from its food service programs as part of a voluntary statewide effort initiated by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA). The statewide campaign encouraged hospitals to voluntarily eliminate industrial trans fats by January 1, 2010 from hospital vending machines, cafeterias and patient nutrition programs in an effort to improve patient and community health.

Industrial trans fats have been linked to increased levels of bad cholesterol and reduced levels of good cholesterol, contributing to an increased risk of heart disease.

The following Spectrum Health hospitals met the MHA goal:

Blodgett Hospital
Butterworth Hospital
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Kelsey Hospital
Reed City Hospital
Spectrum Health Special Care Hospital
United Hospital

“We changed about 30 percent of our products, mostly baked goods and snack items,” said Kathleen Talis, director, food and nutrition services. “We worked with our vendors to find products without trans fats that would be acceptable to our patients and customers. Some of our suppliers actually reformulated recipes to eliminate trans fat in their products.”

According to Talis, while harmful to health, trans fatty acids impact both taste and texture of foods. Baked goods with trans fats are flakier, for example.

Spectrum Health’s hospitals have not experienced complaints or a loss of sales during the transition.

“Our patients and customers are eating healthier food and haven’t noticed a difference in taste,” Talis said.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of seven hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart-physician groups totaling more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $111.1 million in community benefit during its 2008 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards since it was formed in 1997.