"Hospital food" has long been synonymous with packaged, ultraprocessed meals — despite the fact that hospitals are meant to promote healing.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Michelin Star chef Geoffrey Zakarian shared his initiative to improve what is served in U.S.hospitals, following the concept that "food is medicine."For the last three years, Zakarian said he’s been working on changing hospital food — most notably at Tampa General, which is a $4 billion nonprofit, 1,000-bed public hospital.RFK HAILS FIRST US HOSPITAL TO PROMISE HEALTHIER MEALS: 'WE HAVE A TEMPLATE'On Thursday, July 16, Tampa General Hospital CEO John Couris signed the "Make Hospital Food Healthier" pledge during a news conference attended by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Zakarian.Michelin star chef Geoffrey Zakarian sat down with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 2026.
(Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)The pledge commits the hospital to serving more nutritious, minimally processed meals to patients, building on Zakarian's menu overhaul."We’ve changed the entire menu," the celebrity chef told Fox News Digital."We've taken all seed oils out, sugar, maltodextrin.
Anything bad in a box is gone.Anything good is brought in."CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES"We're serving mac and cheese.
We're serving hanger steak and fries.We're serving chicken with couscous.
We do all our protein shakes.No protein shakes in the box anymore.
We do fruit shakes, smoothies, fresh sorbet," the chef listed."So, you're eating like your grandmother's cooking for you."CMS Administrator Dr.
Mehmet Oz has also supported Zakarian in this mission, telling Fox News Digital that the chef has "revolutionized our thinking" around hospital food.Michelin star chef Geoffrey Zakarian and CMS Administrator D...