Ginger ale removed from patient menu at Ottawa Hospital

A sign directing visitors at the General Campus of The Ottawa Hospital in January 2026. (CTV News Ottawa)

Ginger ale is a popular home remedy for people if they have a sore throat or an upset stomach, but it’s no longer on the menu for patients healing at the Ottawa Hospital.

Ottawa’s largest hospital confirms to CTV News Ottawa it has pulled the carbonated beverage from the offerings for patients due to its “limited nutritional value.”

“The Ottawa Hospital is focused on providing health-promoting food and beverage options for patients and families,” Rebecca Abelson, an Ottawa Hospital spokesperson, told CTV News Ottawa in a statement.

“As part of our ongoing review, ginger ale was determined to have limited nutritional value and a high sugar content.”

Abelson says the drinks offered to patients include water, broths, Pedialtye, and apple, orange, and cranberry juice.

“As we work toward our new food service model, we’re always reviewing our current food and beverage options and looking for ways to reduce ultra-processed foods and added sugars where we can,” Abelson said.

Both the Montfort Hospital and the Queensway-Carleton Hospital say ginger ale is still available for patients.

“Patients at Montfort have the option of ordering Ginger Ale from our menu with their lunch and their dinner,” the Montfort Hospital said in a statement.

The removal of ginger ale from the patient menu comes as the Ottawa Hospital works with restaurateur Stephen Beckta to transform patient meals, looking at offering more high-protein and high-fibre options.

The hospital’s Patient Food Services team serves more than 3,000 meals to roughly 1,200 patients every day.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin

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