Recent figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre showed apparent cost of patient food per day varying from £2.55 up to £31.
Andy Jones, chairman of the HCA said: “The results give a distorted impression of current expenditure in relation to meal costs in hospitals.
“This is mainly due to how trusts return the information to the NHS. Trusts may just take one meal i.e. lunch service with food costs only, others may take a full day’s meals, which includes ward and beverage costs.
“The latter may also incorporate ward snacks where offered, while others may do similar, but also include all non-food costs including labour. Thus we see a wide variance in the information and an unclear picture of actual spend on food and beverages per trust.
“However, to achieve a clear indication of how much trusts spend on food, it is important that clear instruction is given from NHS England on the exact data required and the basis upon which it should be collated.
“To ensure the integrity and consistency of the data, the HCA would be willing to work with the Department of Health together with any other relevant bodies, to establish a new survey framework.
“We can help ensure that data collection instructions are not open to wide interpretation and this will allow full transparency on actual food expenditure.”
He added: “We also need to see the setting of not only mandatory nutritional standards for patient food in England but also product specifications.
“However, in order for all hospitals across the country to achieve a national standard, it will also be essential for a mandatory minimum expenditure on all patient meals to be introduced.
“This needs to be linked to inflation and reviewed on an annual basis to ensure it is in line with the current cost of food.
“The introduction of mandatory national standards and minimum costs will greatly assist trusts and their catering teams to achieve high quality food and beverages services that meet the needs and the expectations of all of our patients at all times."