PLEZi Nutrition, a company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, is helping patients and team members at Hackensack Meridian Health cut sugar from their diets.

Hackensack University Medical Center is the first health system nationwide to partner with PLEZi Nutrition, HMH announced Aug. 8. The public benefit company’s first product, PLEZi, is a fruit drink with 75% less sugar than the average leading fruit juice. It includes no added sugars, plus 2 grams of fiber and nutrients, like Vitamin C.

HUMC introduced the kids drink in February. Since then, Hackensack Meridian said patients and employees have removed 1.8 million calories and 1,000 pounds of sugar from their diets.

The system said it expects to expand PLEZi’s availability to all its 18 hospitals in late 2024.

“We are excited to be the first health system in the country to offer PLEZi to our patients and team members,” said Robert Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health. “PLEZi is a delicious and healthy beverage that aligns with our commitment to providing our patients with healthy choices that reduce sugar and calories and improve health outcomes.”

PLEZi Nutrition launched in May 2023. The company aims to create higher standards for how the U.S. makes – and markets – food and beverages for children.

“While I’m proud of all we accomplished during those years at the White House, I’ve also learned that to truly push the food and beverage industry to do better by our kids, you have to work from the inside,” Obama, co-founder and strategic partner of PLEZi Nutrition, stated earlier this year. “I’m thrilled to build on those efforts through PLEZi Nutrition as we work to drive change throughout the entire food and beverage industry.”

Shared goals

Amid a national nutrition-related health crisis, PLEZi’s mission has attracted several recognizable supporters. This summer, Stephen and Ayesha Curry got involved. Meanwhile, Kristen Bell became an investor and brand partner in May.

Under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current recommendations, people 2 years or older should limit added sugars to less than 10% of their total daily calories.

Added sugars are just that – sweeteners put into foods during processing. The CDC identifies sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts and sweet snacks at the leading sources of added sugars in U.S. diets.

While PLEZi cuts out added sugars – such as high fructose corn syrup – it still appeals to tastes. The overall lower sugar content also helps adjust palates to crave less sweetness. With an aim to replace sugary drinks and snacks, PLEZi also boosts its benefits with added nutrients.

PLEZi comes in four flavors: Tropical Punch, Blueberry Blast, Apple Splash and Orange Smash. It is available for purchase on Amazon as well as nationwide at Target, Walmart, Sprouts, select Kroger banners and other retailers.

Continued progress

PLEZi was introduced to Hackensack Meridian by the system’s internal Black Team Member Resource Group. Comprised of team members from across the organization, the collective works to address health-equity challenges and improve diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the state and in the communities it serves.

After learning about the product, the group presented it to HMH leadership. CFO Robert Glenning, in particular, championed the rollout.

At Hackensack Meridian, the introduction continues the health care system’s efforts to enhance the health and wellbeing of the community it serves. The system shared several highlights from that effort:

• HMH is the largest health system in the nation to join the Cool Food Pledge. The World Resources Institute-founded initiative helps organizations reduce their climate impact by promoting more plant-based foods.
• Hackensack Meridian Health has reduced meat consumption by more than 21% at its hospitals.
• “Less meat, better meat” initiatives have helped reduce total food-related emissions by more than 40%.
• Since launching an antibiotic-free foods initiative in 2018, more than 57% of the health system’s meat purchases are antibiotic-free.
• The system helps promote responsible consumption and healthier lifestyles by offering locally sourced foods, sustainably sourced seafood and plant-forward menus.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:06 a.m. ET Aug. 8, 2024, to include information regarding the role HMH’s Black Member Resource Group played in introducing PLEZi to the network.

ICYMI

Hackensack Meridian Health and Monmouth University recently announced a collaboration that will include an academic component, expanded access to care and naming rights for a $27 million expansion at OceanFirst Bank Center. Read more here.