Front-of-Package Program standardizes nutritional labeling.
Press Release Summary:
NSF International and the American Society for Nutrition announced their joint roles in administering a nutritional front-of-package labeling program, the Smart Choices Program(TM). Providing manufacturers and retailers with front-of-pack icon plus calorie information, this program aims to bring consistency and clarity to the US marketplace. It will help consumers quickly identify products and select smarter food and beverage choices within specific product categories.
Original Press Release:
NSF International and the American Society for Nutrition to Administer New Smart Choices Program
NSF and the American Society for Nutrition Collaborate to Provide Food Manufacturers and Retailers New Consumer-Friendly Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. & BETHESDA, Md. - NSF International and the American Society for Nutrition today announced their joint roles in administering a new nutritional front-of-package labeling program, the Smart Choices Program(TM). This nutrition labeling program will provide manufacturers and retailers with a reliable front-of-pack icon plus calorie information that helps consumers recognize smarter food and beverage products within product categories.
The goal of this new labeling program is to bring consistency and clarity to the U.S. marketplace. With the proliferation of front-of-pack labels, there is little uniformity, which often makes it difficult for manufacturers to convey the nutritional benefits of their products and can cause consumer confusion. The Smart Choices Program will make it easier for consumers to quickly identify products and select smarter food and beverage choices within product categories. It provides an opportunity for manufacturers to communicate with consumers about better-for-you products in a clear and consistent manner.
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and NSF International will act as program administrators providing both scientific and technical expertise to a board of directors comprised of non-profit, scientific and industry representatives.
"NSF International's core business is certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods in order to protect public health. This labeling program will assist consumers in choosing nourishing foods and beverages that fit within their daily caloric needs," said Nancy Culotta, NSF Vice President. "We look forward to working with ASN to administer the program and ultimately help educate consumers on nutritional labeling."
"The Smart Choices Program was developed through an unprecedented collaboration of scientists, public health advocates, food industry representatives and health organizations, and it is based on sound, consensus science. As the preeminent professional society for nutrition science, ASN looks forward to working with this exciting new program that will aid consumers in making healthier food selections when they shop," said Jim Hill, ASN President.
To qualify for the Smart Choices Program, all products must meet standards for specific "nutrients to limit," and, for most categories, products must also meet criteria for positive attributes - "nutrients to encourage" or "food groups to encourage." Specific qualifying criteria were developed for 19 different product categories, such as beverages, cereals, meats, dairy and snacks:
Nutrients to limit: total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, added sugars and sodium
Nutrients to encourage: calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E
Food groups to encourage: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat free dairy
The Smart Choices Program is not based on a scoring system; but rather it identifies foods based on science-based nutrition criteria within specific product categories. Products that meet the criteria are eligible to bear the Smart Choices icon on the front of the package. Accompanying the Smart Choices icon will be information on the number of calories per serving, as well as the number of servings in the package. The straight-forward and transparent nutrition criteria distinguish the Smart Choices Program from others in the marketplace. All information is publicly available on the program's Web site: smartchoicesprogram.com.
Companies who have already signed up to participate in the program include ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, SunMaid and Unilever.
For more information on the Smart Choices Program, contact Sarah Krol, General Manager, Smart Choices Program at info@smartchoicesprogram.com or click here to view the Q&A.
Background on the Smart Choices Program
The Smart Choices Program was initiated under the leadership of The Keystone Center, a non-profit organization that specializes in creating consensus solutions to public health problems. The Keystone Center organized a diverse group of scientists, academicians, health and research organizations, food manufacturers and retailers that worked collaboratively to develop the program and the nutrition criteria based on a transparent system of publicly available nutrition information. These criteria were derived from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other sources of authoritative nutrition guidance including the USDA definition for "extra lean," as well as other federal standards and authoritative guidance from the Institute of Medicine, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program was designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing for revisions as new public policy, dietary guidelines and authoritative science emerges. The nutrition criteria for the Smart Choices Program are grounded in nutrition science using trusted authoritative guidance, which means no matter where a consumer shops, the Smart Choices Program front-of-pack symbol will have the same, trusted meaning.
About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
About ASN: The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. ASN is dedicated to bringing together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. Founded in 1928, ASN published The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) and the Journal of Nutrition (JN). Visit ASN online at www.nutrition.org.
CONTACTS:
Greta Houlahan
NSF International
Phone: 734-913-5723
Email: houlahan@nsf.org
Suzanne Price
American Society for Nutrition
Phone: 301-275-6515
Email: sprice@nutrition.org
