Following the Independent Review of Hospital Food in 2020, recommendations were made for updated food and drink standards to make sure that patients, staff and visitors have good quality, healthy, nutritious food.

Now, eight new National Standards of Hospital Food have been developed with an expert panel of caterers, nurses, doctors, dietitians, and 20 exemplar Trusts. All NHS organisations will be legally required to meet these as part of the NHS Standard Contract.

Some of the standards include that organisations must have a designated board Director responsible for food, organisations must have a Food and Drink Strategy and organisations must have a nominated food safety specialist.

More information is available on the NHS England website.