Healthy Ideas Shelf Tags

The Healthy Ideas nutritional shelf labeling program helps consumers identify foods that may be labeled "healthy." Foods that have a Healthy Ideas symbol meet The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) strict criteria for "healthy," which includes foods that are limited in:

• Total fat
• Saturated fat
• Cholesterol
• Sodium
• Sugar

In addition, Healthy Ideas foods provide at least 10% of the Daily Value for either protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium or iron and have no artificial trans fat. Certain food categories also have limits on sugar content. These additional requirements are consistent with the recommendations of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provides science-based advice to promote health and to reduce risk for major chronic diseases through diet and physical activity.

The criteria for "healthy" are based on a Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC), which is the serving size specified by the FDA for each food category. In order to rate products, the values provided in the nutrition facts panel on product packages were converted to RACC values. Ingredients lists were also used to identify added ingredients.

Our Healthy Ideas criteria were built by George L. Blackburn, M.D, Ph.D and a team of health care and nutrition professionals. For a complete list of Shelf Tag Criteria, click here.

You'll find the Healthy Ideas symbol on thousands of products throughout the store. As you shop, look for ways to introduce some of these products into your daily food choices.

Making pasta sauce? Look for canned tomatoes with the Healthy Ideas symbol to make your recipe healthier. Have a favorite family recipe? Check out the ingredients and opt to purchase the products with the Healthy Ideas shelf tag.

Just by making a few simple changes every time you shop, you'll find that you're on your way to healthier eating.